How Being Overweight Can Affect Your Health

More than 75% of Americans are overweight or obese today. Overweight people have a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29.9, and obese people have a BMI of 30 or above. Many overweight people progress to obesity. But you can seize the reins of your life and move in the opposite direction to reach a healthy weight if you have the right kind of support. 

At Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness, we recognize being overweight and obese as chronic medical problems. We understand the severe effects extra weight can have, and we’re here to help you achieve better whole-person health. At the same time, we recognize that due to genetic factors, age, gender, and ethnicity, what is considered a healthy weight can be different in different people. There are no one size fits all solutions at Owl & Eagle. We respect your individualized goals and celebrate your unique victories. 

Our compassionate team of board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners offers a comprehensive weight loss management program, tailored to your individual needs in our Greenwood Village and Golden, Colorado, offices and through telehealth. 

One of the most important parts of the program is education. We believe that the more you know, the better you can do in managing your weight and whole-body health. Let’s look at some of the negative effects carrying extra weight. 

How extra weight affects your body 

Extra weight can cause damage in virtually every part of your body.  Some of the many problems you may experience include:

• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
• Kidney disease
• Gallstones
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Asthma
• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
• Infertility
• Osteoarthritis

Extra weight increases the risk of breast, kidney, gallbladder, pancreatic, liver, and some other types of cancers. In fact, up to 8% of cancers today are related to obesity. 

A shortened lifespan is one of the most dire consequences of being overweight or obese. It can cost you many years with your loved ones.  For example, a combination of 20 different studies revealed that severely obese people may die 14 years earlier than they otherwise would have. 

How extra weight affects your mental health

Multiple studies show that carrying extra weight may have a strong negative effect on your mental health. For instance, as many as 6 in 10 people with obesity have a psychiatric disorder. 

Some of the most common problems that may affect people who struggle with their weight include depression and anxiety disorders. Eating disorders and having a history of trauma are also common in people who are overweight or obese. Unlike most weight loss programs, Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness offers expert treatment for psychiatric disorders while working on your physical health and fitness. Treating these issues helps address underlying root causes of the extra weight, helping you reach maximum health and happiness. 

Extra weight doesn’t have to hold you back anymore  

We use a holistic bodywide approach to weight management and wellness. This approach is carefully planned to help you improve your weight-related health problems, lose weight, and feel your best. 

Our Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness team treats metabolic conditions like diabetes, prescribes a custom diet, plans an exercise regimen, recommends natural supplements, helps with stress management, and provides prescription weight loss medication. 

We’re mental health experts and offer unique approaches for every person from counseling and psychotherapy to medication management and alternative therapies like ketamine and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). 

Put simply, we offer the most comprehensive weight management program available so you can understand, fight, and overcome your weight challenges. We want you to love your body and find happiness — for the long term. 

Call our office or reach out online to learn more about weight management today.