Overweight & Obesity

Together with elevated blood pressure and blood lipid levels and type 2 diabetes, obesity is part of the so-called "diseases of affluence". Excess weight is therefore not a condition in its own right. However, it substantially increases the risk of developing cardiovascular complications such as atherosclerosis or a heart attack, and should therefore be diagnosed and treated early. Our doctors at avi are by your side at all our locations.

The first step in diagnosing obesity is determining the individual's body mass index (BMI for short). This is calculated from body weight in kilograms relative to the square of height in metres, and lies between 18.5 and 24.9 in people of normal weight.

From 25, a so-called pre-obesity is diagnosed. From 30, grade I obesity, and from a value of 35, grade II obesity. If the BMI exceeds 40, grade III obesity is present (known as morbid obesity).

As a supporting measure during diagnosis, waist circumference is frequently measured to identify abdominal obesity. This is present from a circumference of 88 cm in women and 102 cm in men.

The most common triggers of obesity include:

• lifestyle (poor diet as well as insufficient exercise and sleep)
• various conditions, e.g. hypothyroidism
• medications such as corticosteroids and certain antidepressants and antipsychotics
• genetic predisposition

The typical accompanying conditions of obesity are:

• high blood pressure
• atherosclerosis and the resulting cardiovascular complications such as heart attack, stroke, and damage to the kidneys and other organs
• non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• type 2 diabetes mellitus
• tumours
• muscle weakness

The first step in your obesity treatment is education and guidance on lifestyle change. This includes, for example, a reduction in daily calorie intake, an individually tailored diet, and physical exercise. These measures are generally sufficient to normalise your laboratory values.

Should the excess weight persist, however, our experienced doctors at avi will supplement the treatment with medication in order to manage the secondary conditions caused by obesity (such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and elevated blood lipid levels).

As a last resort for the most severe form of excess weight, morbid obesity, a weight-reducing surgical procedure carried out in hospital is the final option.