Mayo Clinic Health System
  • Patient Online Services
  • Pay Bill Online
  • Request an Appointment
    • Services
    • Providers
    • Locations

      Minnesota

      • Adams
      • Albert Lea
      • Austin
      • Belle Plaine
      • Blooming Prairie
      • Butterfield
      • Caledonia
      • Cannon Falls
      • Fairmont
      • Faribault
      • Janesville
      • Kenyon
      • Lake City
      • Le Sueur
      • Mankato
      • Montgomery
      • New Prague
      • New Richland
      • Northfield
      • Owatonna
      • Plainview
      • Red Wing
      • Sherburn
      • St. James
      • St. Peter
      • Waseca
      • Waterville
      • Wells
      • Zumbrota

      Wisconsin

      • Arcadia
      • Barron
      • Bloomer
      • Chetek
      • Chippewa Falls
      • Eau Claire
      • Ellsworth
      • Glenwood City
      • Holmen
      • La Crosse
      • Menomonie
      • Mondovi
      • Onalaska
      • Osseo
      • Prairie du Chien
      • Rice Lake
      • Sparta
      • Tomah

      Iowa

      • Decorah
      • Lake Mills

      View map
    • Classes/Events
    • Blog
    • Wellness
    • Referrals
    • COVID-19
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Billing & Insurance
    • Careers
    • Online Services
    • Patients & Visitors
    • Services & Treatments
    • Volunteer
    Need to make an appointment?
    • 507-594-4181

    Bariatric Surgery

    • Overview
    • FAQs
    • Our Team
    • Surgical Options
    • Long-Term Success
    • About Obesity
    • We are Accredited

    Attend a Bariatric Surgery Information Session

    Learn how our comprehensive Bariatric Surgery Program can lead to a healthier life. 

    Recent Blogs

    • Fresh fruit on wood skewers
      Speaking of Health
      Not just for the fair: Lunch on a stick
      August 12, 2022
    • Blueberries on bush
      Speaking of Health
      The power of blueberries
      July 22, 2022
    • Pickles
      Speaking of Health
      An introduction to probiotics
      July 13, 2022
    • Herbed shrimp
      Speaking of Health
      All about food allergies
      June 29, 2022
    • Roasted sweet potatoes with herbs
      Speaking of Health
      Plant power: Using diet to lower cancer risk
      June 21, 2022
    • Smiling in front of brick wall
      Speaking of Health
      Intermittent fasting: Fad or valid weight-loss solution?
      June 17, 2022

    About Obesity

    Obesity is defined as having an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity is more than just a cosmetic concern, though. It increases your risk of diseases and health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Being extremely obese means you are especially likely to have health problems related to your weight. The good news is that even modest weight loss can improve or prevent the health problems associated with obesity. You can usually lose weight through dietary changes, increased physical activity and behavior changes. In some cases, prescription medications or weight-loss surgery may be options.

    What causes obesity?

    There are many things that can lead to an unhealthy weight. These include:

    • Family history — Genes do play a part in how your body balances calories and energy. Children whose parents are overweight are also more likely to be overweight. You can’t change your genetic makeup by willpower any more than you can make yourself taller or shorter by wishing. But, you can still lose weight and keep it off, even if you have a family history of unhealthy weight.
    • Culture — We tend to eat and cook the same way our parents did and the foods we choose are often those we grew up with. Family gatherings and social events such as weddings and holiday parties often center around food.
    • Physical inactivity — Not getting enough physical activity can lead to an unhealthy weight. These days, many people spend a lot of time watching TV, playing video games or doing other activities that do not require a lot of energy.
    • Emotional or psychological factors — For many people, food is a source of comfort or celebration. Some people eat when they are feeling sad or stressed. In order to lose weight and keep it off, it is important to find more healthful ways of dealing with emotions.
    • Gender — Women are more likely to have an unhealthy weight than men simply because men have more muscle than women. Muscle uses more energy than fat does, and men burn 10 to 20 percent more calories than women do at rest.
    • Age — As you get older, the amount of muscle in your body tends to decrease and fat accounts for a greater percentage of your weight. This lower muscle mass leads to a decrease in metabolism, meaning a body needs fewer calories.
    • High-fat/high-calorie diets — Typical restaurant meals are high in fat and calories. Even seemingly healthful foods such as salads can be high in fat if you add a lot of salad dressing. Ounce for ounce, fat provides more than twice as many calories as protein or carbohydrates.

    Is my weight unhealthy?

    A calculation called the Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to determine if you are overweight or obese. If your BMI is over 25, you are considered overweight. A BMI over 30 is considered obese. Click here to calculate your BMI.

    Another indicator of risk for obesity is if waist circumference is greater than 40 inches for men or more than 35 inches for women.   

     

    Related Upcoming Classes and Events View More

    Aug25

    Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery Information Sessions — Mankato

    Mankato, MN
    Virtual
    08/25/2022 4 p.m.
    More Info

    Stay Connected

    • Contact Us
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Community Resources
    • Mayo Clinic Connect
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • Home
    © 2018 - 2022 Mayo Clinic Health System