Obesity

Question 1

Define obesity

Answer 1

excess body fat

BMI greater than 30kg/m^2

It can also be defined by waist circumference:
• Men: > 102 cm is high risk and < 94 cm is low risk
• Women: > 88 cm is high risk and < 80 cm is low risk

Question 2

What are the causes/risk factors of obesity?

Answer 2

• Genetic
• Larger portion sizes
• Increasing sedentary lifestyle
• Poor dietary habits
• Cultural behaviours
• Low socioeconomic level
• Endocrine e.g. hypothyroidism, Cushing’s, insulinoma

Question 3

What are the signs and symptoms of obesity?

Answer 3

wSymptoms
• Fat

Signs
• High BMI
• High waist circumference
• Cormorbidity e.g. T2DM, CVD, HTN, GORD, asthma, OSAS, stroke, gout, arthritis,
NASH, cancer, gallbladder disease, depression

Question 4

What investigations are carried out for obesity?

Answer 4

*to screen for comorbidities
• Fasting Blood Glucose - mpaired Fasting Glucose - diabetes
• Serum Lipids - elevated –Dyslipidaemia
• LFTs - Normal or Elevated
• Blood Pressure - Normal or Elevated
• Cardiac Screen - If indicated –ECG, troponin, echo, catheterisation, depending on history.