Did you know that obesity is considered a chronic disease? It’s also a national epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than one-third of U.S. adults (more than 78 million people) are obese. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index of 30 or greater.
“It’s no secret that weight gain occurs easily, and weight loss can be a bit more challenging. Although there are genetic and hormonal influences on body weight, obesity occurs when you take in more calories than you burn through exercise and normal daily activities,” says Dr. Seanna Thompson, Mayo Clinic Health System OBGYN physician.
Significant health risks are associated with obesity. Obesity is linked to dozens of other chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Numerous cancers — including female reproductive tumors — are also associated with being overweight or obese. Other gynecologic problems may include infertility and irregular periods.
From a women’s health perspective, maintaining a healthy weight can significantly cut your risk of developing these life-threatening conditions. Studies show that even modest weight loss (3 to 5 percent of body weight) has been shown to produce significant improvement in many conditions.