OBESITY & WEIGHT
SECTION CONTENT
Overview
Recommended Reading
Our Services
Treatment
Overview
About 60% of Americans over the age of 20 are overweight, and one in four are obese. If you're overweight, it means you're carrying too much weight, which could be from muscle, bone, fat, or water. Obesity happens when you have too much body fat. This can increase your risk of getting serious health issues like heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain cancers.
Every year, around 280,000 adults in the U.S. die from problems linked to obesity. Moreover, studies have found that overweight people can face unfair treatment, leading to feelings of sadness, low self-esteem, and concern over how they look.
Recommended Reading
Being obese or morbidly obese puts you at risk for many serious health issues. The most common problems include:
Depression Feeling depressed is common after diet failures and facing others' negative judgments.
Diabetes If you're obese, your body might not use insulin correctly, which helps control your blood sugar. Over time, this can lead to type 2 diabetes, harming your body.
Gastroesophageal Reflux or Heartburn This happens when stomach acid leaks into the esophagus because of a weak or overworked valve, causing discomfort and sometimes leading to more serious conditions.
High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease Extra weight makes your heart work harder. This can cause high blood pressure, leading to strokes, heart, and kidney problems.
Incontinence A large belly can weaken the bladder's valve, causing urine leakage when coughing, sneezing, or laughing.
Infertility Obesity can make it harder for women to get pregnant.
Menstrual Irregularities Being very overweight can cause changes in menstrual cycles, abnormal flow, and more pain.
Osteoarthritis Extra weight on your joints, especially knees and hips, can cause them to wear out faster and become painful.
Sleep Apnea and Respiratory Problems Fat in the tongue and neck can block your airway when you sleep, causing sleep apnea. This might make you wake up often to change position and feel tired or have headaches during the day.
Depending on your health, your doctor might suggest different treatments, from changing your diet to taking medication to possibly having surgery.
Our Services
At Lyons Primary Care Group, we make weight management plans just for you. We look at your body type, what you want to achieve in weight loss, and how you live your life. Our weight management service is carefully made to meet the specific needs and goals of anyone trying to get to a healthier weight and lifestyle.
Treatment
Access to effective prescription medications is key in weight management. Our providers carefully evaluate your health to recommend the safe and effective weight-loss medications, such as:
Semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic)
Tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro)
Bupropion and Naltrexone (Contrave)
Orlistat (Xenical, Alli)
Monitoring is continuous, with adjustments made as necessary to ensure the best outcomes while maintaining the highest health standards. We work with you to design a plan that easily integrates into your life, making your weight loss journey both successful and sustainable.
Medications can play a key role in treating morbid obesity, but drugs for losing weight can cause significant side effects. It's advised to see a qualified health care provider who can prescribe the right medications for you.
Lyons Primary Care Group’s health care specialists have reviewed this content for educational purposes. It's not meant to replace your doctor's advice. Please discuss any questions or concerns with your provider.