Morbid obesity increases a teen's risk for depression, heart disease and other life-threatening conditions. According to the Obesity Action Coalition, morbid obesity refers to body weight that exceeds a person's ideal weight by at least 100 lbs....
Approximately 60 percent of American adults are considered overweight, according to the University of California, San Francisco, Medical Center. Of the 60 percent, one fourth are considered obese, a condition in which body weight and body fat...
The statistics for extreme or morbid obesity are concerning, with the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey revealing that 5.7 percent of the adult Americans population is morbidly obese. A person with a body mass index of 40...
Obesity is a serious medical condition requiring treatment from a qualified health professional. Part of your treatment may include prescription medications that work with a number of different mechanisms to help you lose weight. For example, such...
Most Americans are either overweight or obese. The battle of the bulge is unfortunately common. In addition, more Americans are falling into weight categories of extreme obesity. More than 14 percent of Americans fall under Grade or Class II...
Weight loss drugs are medications used to promote weight loss in severely obese individuals and people at risk for obesity-related health conditions. When combined with a healthy, calorie-reduced diet and regular exercise, weight loss drugs can...
Orlistat is a drug available over the counter as the brand Alli, in a lower dose than the prescription version Xenical. Alli is intended to be part of a low-calorie, low-fat diet and exercise program for losing weight. Orlistat blocks some dietary...
The liver and kidneys are vital organs responsible for digestion and filtering your blood to get rid of toxins, waste or extra fluid. Urinary system disruptions, hepatitis and complications with diabetes are all associated with impaired liver or...
Peripheral edema can be a sign of a life threatening condition, as well as a side effect from exercise. Recognizing what causes the swelling helps you determine whether you need to seek medical treatment or simply take precautions before and...
The hormone insulin enables sugar to enter the cells to produce energy for the body. Consequently, it is a critical factor in childhood growth. High insulin levels result mainly from insulin resistance, when the hormone is blocked and reduced....
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), swollen feet and ankles are a widespread problem especially among the elder population. Swollen feet may also be caused by certain medications, obesity and sometimes serious medical conditions....
Your liver is one of your most important organs. The American Liver Society states that a typical adult liver weighs approximately 3 lb., filters more than 1 liter of blood every minute and is roughly the size of a football. Your liver is located...
Obesity is a problem plaguing millions of Americans. It not only poses a health risk, but can damage your self-esteem as well. Losing excess weight is not an easy task for most. Breaking old eating habits and developing new ones can prove quite a...
Arthritis is a term that means inflammation in one or more joints. Arthritis results in pain, swelling and stiffness that limits movement. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, arthritis is the most common cause of...
High levels of uric acid in your body may be injurious to your health. MayoClinic.com notes that elevated levels of uric acid, or hyperuricemia, may not cause problems in some people, whereas other people with this condition may develop gout,...
Lowering your cholesterol levels can be a challenge. While certain risk factors are in your control, making it easier to control this condition, other risk factors are not. These include genetics and certain medical conditions like high blood...
Fat loss is a considerable incentive to training. Losing body fat takes a commitment to exercise and nutrition. Sometimes those last few stubborn pounds can prove difficult and frustrating. When counting calories and following a strict diet are...
You eat a big, high fat meal and pay for it with scorching heartburn. Esophagitis is a generic term for the inflammation and irritation of the food pipe or esophagus. The most common cause of this irritation is the reflux of stomach acid, which is...
Approximately 500,000 adults suffer from a peptic ulcer every year, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Peptic ulcers can cause severe pain, vomiting, nausea and weight loss. Probiotics -- healthy forms of...
There are two types of fatty liver disease, or steatosis: alcohol-induced and nonalcoholic. Both conditions may result in elevated levels of normal liver enzymes in your blood. If your doctor notices high liver enzyme levels, he may investigate...
Several over-the-counter and prescription diet pills are available for overweight adults. Though not a cure for excess weight, diet pills can help you slim down. The same weight-loss pills are available for men and women, but each affects people...
Obesity may be caused by a variety of factors, including heredity, lifestyle, lack of sleep and medical problems. According to the American Dietetic Association, obesity is not determined by weight, but by the amount of fat on one's body. Since...
Americans spend over $40 billion annually on weight loss products, the National Eating Disorders Association reports, diet pills included. Designed to enhance weight loss, diet pills typically work by reducing your appetite, boosting your energy...
You spend weeks trying to get rid of it in the summer, and you may not even realize how much the dandelion plant can improve your health. Dandelion, known scientifically as Taraxacum officinale, is an herb that grows wild in meadows, fields and,...
Uric acid is a chemical your body creates that breaks down natural substances called purines. Certain medications, obesity, genetic factors and illnesses, such as leukemia and hypothyroidism, and a high-purine diet can lead to excessive uric acid...
Cholesterol deposits, also known as xanthomas, are little deposits of fats that sometimes appear on the body. They tend to be yellow, soft and slightly raised bumps, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, and can occur on any area...
Andropause, also known as male menopause, is a decline in the production of androgen hormones in males. This condition may occur naturally with age, or it can occur as a result of diseases and injuries that cause the production of androgens to...
Gastric bypass surgery is a procedure that permanently alters a person's digestive system. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 106,242 gastric bypass procedures were performed from 2002 to 2004, more than triple the number of...
A broad range of over-the-counter and prescription weight loss drugs are available to overweight consumers. While diet pills may provide benefits, such as reduced appetite or fat absorption, they may also cause side effects and place your physical...
GERD or gastro esophageal reflux disease is a condition in which stomach acid or, occasionally, bile flows back into your food pipe. The constant backwash or acid reflux can irritate the lining of your esophagus and cause inflammation. Learn about...
