How Do I Know if I’m Obese?

Does it really matter if you’re obese versus overweight? The truth is, whether you’ve got 10 pounds or 100 pounds to lose, excess weight can be a drag on your self-confidence and overall health. But your risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and other weight-related issues increases significantly when your weight climbs above what’s normal for your body frame and height.

Dr. Mustafa Ahmed is a top-rated surgeon with a thriving practice, Southern Nevada Bariatrics, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Well-known for his compassionate and medically sound approach to weight loss, Dr. Ahmed focuses on helping his patients achieve and maintain their ultimate weight-loss goals, regardless of how much you have to lose.

Here’s what this talented specialist has to say about defining obesity and why it matters.

Defining obesity

Physicians and dietitians use a variety of methods to calculate or measure body fatness and how it relates to a person’s overall health. One of the most familiar methods calculates your body mass index (BMI) using only your height and weight. 

BMI is a screening tool that indicates whether you’re considered underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese.  

Generally, BMI ranges for adults are categorized as:

  • Underweight = BMI below 18.5
  • Normal weight = BMI 18.5 to 24.9
  • Overweight = BMI 25.0 to 29.9
  • Obese = BMI 30.0 and above

BMI does not measure body fat directly, like studies such as skinfold thickness measurements or other methods of body fat analysis. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), research shows that BMI is an overall accurate indicator of body fatness for most people.   

Dr. Ahmed may also separate obesity into subcategories, which include:

  • Class 1: BMI of 30 to less than 35
  • Class 2: BMI of 35 to less than 40
  • Class 3: BMI of 40 or above

Class 3 obesity may also be further identified as severe or morbid obesity.

Weight and your health  

It’s true that your body needs a certain amount of fat to provide fuel for your cells, keep you warm, and protect your organs and joints. Too little body fat decreases your resistance to illness and increases your risks of developing certain health conditions.

Too much body fat, on the other hand, increases your odds of developing complicated medical conditions such as:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Certain cancers
  • Elevated blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Stroke
  • Liver disease
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Excess weight also takes a considerable toll on your confidence and self-esteem, which may be harder to measure than physical complications of obesity but just as significant.

Succeeding at weight loss

At Southern Nevada Bariatrics, we offer a medically supervised weight-loss program that includes nutritional counseling, a customized plan that’s designed to meet your individual needs, and ongoing support for maintaining your weight loss once you’ve met your goals.

Our goal is to encourage your efforts and provide both medical and emotional support throughout your weight-loss journey. As a top-rated surgeon, Dr. Ahmed also provides various bariatric surgeries for individuals who meet the guidelines and are interested in weight-loss surgery.

Our success rate here at Southern Nevada Bariatrics is high because we take a comprehensive approach to weight loss that focuses on both your emotional well-being and your physical health.

For further information about accomplishing your weight-loss goals, schedule a visit with Dr. Ahmed by calling our office or using the online booking tool.

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