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Obesity and Bariatric Surgery

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Obesity Basics: What Is It? How Is It Treated?

Miracle Diet Quiz

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Put Some Healthful Into Holiday Eating

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Know Your Risks

Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment

The questions in this assessment ask about risk factors—conditions that may put you at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states that the more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to develop diabetes.

Understanding Obesity See All

Determining Your Body Mass Index in Understanding Obesity

Your BMI gives a fairly accurate assessment of how much of your body is composed of fat....more

Obesity Treatment Overview in Understanding Obesity

Whatever treatment plan a person follows, losing weight slowly will be more effective and healthy over the long-term....more

Obesity and Health Problems See All

Metabolic Syndrome in Obesity and Health Problems

Metabolic syndrome is a condition that includes the presence of a cluster of risk factors specific for cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome greatly raises the risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or all three....more

Metabolic Syndrome Worksheet in Obesity and Health Problems

To help manage your condition, fill in the dates on which you had or will have the tests or checkups described here....more

Type 2 Diabetes in Obesity and Health Problems

When your body can't make enough insulin or can't use insulin, it is called type 2 diabetes. Insulin helps the cells in the body absorb glucose, or sugar, for energy. Without insulin, glucose builds up in the blood resulting in high blood sugar....more

Take Action to Beat Heart Disease in Obesity and Health Problems

Even if you already have atherosclerosis or have had a heart attack, there’s a lot you can do to prevent future heart problems....more

Risks of Physical Inactivity in Obesity and Health Problems

Lack of physical activity has clearly been shown to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease....more

Sleep Apnea in Obesity and Health Problems

Sleep apnea is a serious, potentially life-threatening condition. It is far more common than generally understood. Sleep apnea happens in all age groups and both genders....more

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)/Heartburn in Obesity and Health Problems

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a digestive disorder. It is caused when gastric acid from your stomach flows back up into your food pipe or esophagus....more

Treating Obesity See All

Medical Treatment for Obesity in Treating Obesity

Medical treatment can help with weight loss if your own efforts are unsuccessful—or if you have a medical condition that makes it crucial to lose weight....more

Healthcare Providers Who Specialize in Obesity in Treating Obesity

Some healthcare providers specialize in treating patients who are obese or overweight. These healthcare providers are called bariatric healthcare providers or bariatricians. Some of these healthcare providers may also be bariatric surgeons. ...more

Bariatric Surgery See AllDeciding On Surgery See AllTypes Of Surgery See All

Choosing a Bariatric Surgery Procedure in Deciding On Surgery

Bariatric surgery is a type of surgery to help you lose weight. It is a choice for some people who are obese and have not been able to lose weight with other methods. ...more

Before Bariatric Surgery in Deciding On Surgery

Bariatric surgery is a type of surgery to help you lose weight. It is a choice for some people who are obese and have not been able to lose weight with other methods. ...more

Gastric Restrictive Surgery in Types Of Surgery

Gastric restrictive surgery is a type of bariatric surgery or weight loss surgery. It limits the amount of food you can eat. This surgery may be used to treat severe obesity when diet, exercise, and medicine have failed....more

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding in Types Of Surgery

Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding is a type of weight-loss surgery. This type is done as laparoscopic surgery, with small incisions in the upper abdomen. The surgeon puts an adjustable band around the top part of your stomach....more

Lifestyle Changes See AllAbout Weight Loss See AllHealthy Eating See AllBeing Active See All

Maintaining Weight Loss in About Weight Loss

Keeping extra weight off needs effort and commitment, just as losing weight does....more

Preventing Obesity in Children, Teens, and Adults in Healthy Eating

Given the chronic diseases and conditions associated with obesity and the fact that obesity is difficult to treat, prevention is extremely important....more

Calculating Calories and Fat Grams in Healthy Eating

Here's a formula to help you figure out how many calories and fat grams you need each day to maintain your current weight....more

Designing an Exercise Program in Being Active

To improve your heart and lung fitness, aim for 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic exercise three to four times a week....more

Childhood and Obesity See AllUnderstanding Childhood Obesity See AllHealthy Eating See AllBeing Active See All

Obesity in Teens in Understanding Childhood Obesity

Obesity is when a teen has too much body fat. Obesity is a serious, long-term disease....more

A Chubby Baby Is Not a Sign of Future Obesity in Understanding Childhood Obesity

With childhood obesity on the rise, should parents worry about the weight of their babies?...more

Healthy Eating During Adolescence in Healthy Eating

Encourage your teen to eat three balanced meals a day, with fruits or vegetables as snacks....more

Metabolic Syndrome and Soft Drink Consumption in Healthy Eating

Regular soft drinks contain sugar—empty calories in your diet. Sugary drinks also raise insulin levels, which causes you to put on more deep fat....more

Exercise and Adolescents in Being Active

Teens need at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most days for good health and fitness and for healthy weight during growth....more

Weight Room No Longer Off-Limits to Kids in Being Active

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Sports Medicine now say that strength training is fine for kids, as long as they are supervised and don't try to lift too much weight....more

Interactive Tools See All

Adult BMI Calculator

Experts are increasingly urging people to know their BMI, a figure that takes into account not just weight but also height to indicate body fat....more

Calorie Burn Rate Calculator

The more active you are, the more calories you burn. Running or jogging, for instance, burns more calories than bowling....more

Obesity Basics: What Is It? How Is It Treated?

There is an epidemic of obesity in this country, health experts say. But what is obesity? How is it measured?...more

Miracle Diet Quiz

Dieting is temporary when it comes to losing weight. To keep weight off you actually have to change your lifestyle. Why is it so hard? For one thing, we may not know as much as we think. Take our quiz to test your knowledge....more

Type 2 Diabetes Risk Assessment

Multimedia See All

Obesity

People can become obese by taking in more calories than they burn. Obesity also appears to be influenced by genetics. This video discusses the health risks associated with obesity and what treatment and lifestyle changes are commonly recommended....more