Obesity & Hypoglycemia

Obesity and hypoglycemia are two common conditions that have a connection in addition to the fact that both can cause severe health problems. These two diseases are related to the way your body processes what you eat and drink. Obesity and hypoglycemia also both have a connection to diabetes, a condition in which the body cannot correctly process insulin. If you suffer from either of these conditions, you should seek advice on your health from a doctor.

Defining Obesity

Obese is a term used to describe someone who is well over normal body weight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calculates obesity by determining your BMI -- body mass index -- a number created using height and weight, which can be found in charts online. If you are older than 18 and have a BMI of 30 or higher, you are considered obese. Obesity can put you at risk for high blood pressure and heart disease, diabetes and other serious illnesses.

About Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood glucose levels drop too low. In a healthy individual, the body absorbs carbohydrates and other sources of glucose. It is then converted into energy through insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. If insulin production is flawed, as in diabetes, levels in the body fall and you can become hypoglycemic, also known as having low blood sugar. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include anxiety, dizziness and confusion. In severe cases it can lead to seizures and coma.

Mechanism

As far back as 1968, a study published in "Canadian Family Physician" acknowledged that hypoglycemia may be a link between obesity and diabetes. The authors noted the fact that weight gain is often a precursor to diabetes, and hypoglycemia is common in those who are obese. In fact, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, the extra glucose not converted by the pancreas into energy can be changed to fat in the body and stored within the fat cells.

Bariatric Surgery

Another connection between obesity and hypoglycemia that has been studied pertains to patients who have had bariatric surgery. The procedure, also known as stomach stapling or gastric bypass, is done on obese patients who have not been able to lose enough weight through diet and exercise. Studies have shown a higher instance of hypoglycemia than the norm in patients who have undergone these procedures; however, it appears that the odds of hypoglycemic episodes diminish in the years following surgery.

Warning

Obesity and hypoglycemia are two serious medical conditions that can have lasting effects on your overall well-being. You should not rely on just your own research on either. Both conditions require monitoring of your diet and nutrition by a health-care professional. Failure to do so can have serious medical repercussions and may even prove fatal. Consult with a physician and keep regular appointments if you are hypoglycemic or are obese.