Does obesity raise the risk of heart attack and diabetes?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 41 years old, 320 pounds, and have had a hard time losing weight. I have tried various diets, and I continue to gain weight. I recently got diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, and my sleep study showed that I stop breathing over 60 times an hour when I sleep.

Also, I have been experiencing chest discomfort, shortness of breath with minimal exertion, increasing blood pressure, and blood sugar while adhering to the specified treatment plan. I also have chronic knee and back pain that affects my quality of life regularly.

It is a really emotional time for me. I worry about my health and future, especially because my brother, who was roughly my size, had a deadly heart attack at age 38. My doctor told me that I am prediabetic and at an elevated risk for heart disease. Given these problems, I would like to know more about the health risks of obesity. If I cannot lose a large amount of weight, may my present health status put me at a substantially higher risk for heart attack, diabetes, physical handicap, or other serious health problems?

Thank you for your time and advice.

Would really appreciate any recommendations you have.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I know how difficult and emotionally draining it can be to work so hard on losing weight and not see the results you want. Depression, anxiety, and stress are not uncommon when one faces a lot of health-related problems, which hinder the quality of their everyday activities. Many factors impact a person's weight, such as diet, exercise, illnesses, and genetics. Genetics may have an influence on how easily a person can gain or lose weight, but there is always a choice.

The risk is higher for those who come from families with a history of obesity, especially if one does not make any healthy decisions in life. A wide range of diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high lipid levels, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disorders, and metabolic syndrome, affect many obese patients.

I understand that you might be afraid of your future health, but do not be afraid because there is a possibility of doing some things at once and getting good results from them.

At the moment, I advise you not to let your feelings overwhelm you. Acknowledgment of the problem and seeking assistance are the first and primary steps in improving your health condition and losing weight.

If you take any medication, would you mind telling me about it?

Do you smoke or drink alcohol?
What is your routine day-to-day activity with respect to diet, work schedule, sleeping pattern, and physical activity?
What diet or plans for losing weight have you tried previously, and why were you not able to follow those?
Have you ever taken a blood work test before?

Tell me if the findings were favorable.

In order to know if your increase or decrease in weight is due to an illness, you must have a comprehensive check-up that may even include some laboratory work.

Your doctor may have also discussed medical therapies and bariatric surgery as viable solutions for you. They may be beneficial to some people, but they are often administered only after a thorough evaluation and after lifestyle adjustments have failed to produce the desired outcomes.

I hope this helps you feel better and offers you hope. Please provide me with the additional information requested above, and I would gladly assist you further by providing a more precise review and suggestions.

Thank you for reading.

I hope this helps.