Winning Over Obesity Means Winning Back Your Health
Obesity is not just about body weight. It is a long-term health condition that can affect your metabolism, heart, liver, hormones and blood sugar. Understanding how these are connected is the first step towards better health.
What is Obesity?2
Obesity is a chronic, relapsing disease arising from complex interactions between genetics, neurobiology, eating behaviours, access to healthy diet, market forces, and the broader environment.
In the last decades, obesity has expanded globally as countries have experienced greater food security, socioeconomic development, and shifts in diet, physical activity, and societal and individual behavior driven by globalization and industrialized food systems.
More than 1 billion people living with obesity and prevalence
rising in nearly every country
Definition of overweight and obesity2
WHO defines overweight and obesity as outlined below.
Causes of overweight and obesity2
Overweight and obesity result from an imbalance of energy intake (diet) and energy expenditure (physical activity). In most cases obesity is a multifactorial disease due to environmental and psycho-social factors and genetic variants.
Causes of overweight and obesity2
Overweight and obesity result from an imbalance of energy intake (diet) and energy expenditure (physical activity). In most cases obesity is a multifactorial disease due to environmental and psycho-social factors and genetic variants.
Use our tools to better understand your health and assess your risk levels
Obesity: Social Stigma & Mindset3
Anti-fat bias
Associates overweight individuals with traits like laziness, lack of willpower, and incompetence — regardless of actual weight status
Media portrayal
Often links higher body weight with personal failure & lack of intelligence or self-control
Widespread bias
Both in the general public and healthcare professionals have with negative attitudes toward people with obesity
Dehumanization
People with Obesity are perceived as less evolved or human as per studies
Self-identification
Linked to poorer mental and physical health outcomes
Consequences of Obesity Stigma4
Mental Health
Stigma is linked to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and even suicidal thoughts
Physical health
Health conditions such as high BP & insulin resistance, and is associated with disordered eating patterns like binge eating and weight cycling
Healthcare avoidance
Fear of judgment can lead people to avoid seeking medical care, which hinders obesity prevention and treatment
Social and economic impact
Leads to social isolation, poorer quality of relationships, & economic disadvantages
Obesity & PCOS6
Women with PCOS often find it harder to lose weight. PCOS can make the body less sensitive to insulin, causing more insulin and male hormones to build up in the body. This can lead to weight gain, especially around the stomach. Abdominal fat can further worsen PCOS symptoms and increase the risk of diabetes, high BP and heart disease.
This can also worsen symptoms like irregular periods, acne and difficulty getting pregnant.
The good news is that even a small amount of weight loss can help. Losing just 5–10% of your body weight may:
Make periods more regular
Improve Fertility
Lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease
Reduce PCOS symptoms
Improve insulin resistance
Obesity & Metabolism5
Some people may gain weight more easily because they move less, have less muscle or have hormone changes that affect hunger and fat storage.
The good news is that even small changes can help with weight loss:
Move more during the day
Exercise regularly
Sleep well and manage stress
Build muscle
Eat balanced meals
Obesity & Liver Disease7
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is when fat builds up in your liver because of extra body weight, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. It used to be called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Obesity may be the most common cause of this disease.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease can happen without causing any symptoms.
Blood tests and imaging tests, such as a CT scan and ultrasound, can help diagnose it.
Losing weight and making other lifestyle changes can help control and even reverse this disease.
Symptoms of MASLD are:
Severe tiredness (fatigue)
Weight loss
Extra fluid buildup (fluid retention)
Loss of appetite
Weakness
Bleeding
How MyAarambh Supports You
Effective obesity management requires sustained lifestyle changes and continuous support.
MyAarambh supports patients by:
Improving awareness and understanding of healthy weight management
Encouraging regular tracking of weight and health progress
Supporting sustainable lifestyle modifications (nutrition and physical activity)
Promoting adherence to personalised care plans
Providing ongoing guidance and motivation throughout the journey
Continue Your Care with MyAarambh
Sources & References
- https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2219931
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
- Self‐perception of overweight and obesity: A review of mental and physical health outcomes – PMC
- https://www.ncoa.org/article/how-do-weight-bias-and-stigma-affect-patients-with-obesity/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/metabolism/art-20046508
- https://www.webmd.com/women/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-and-weight-gain
- https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease
PYC code: NUC-PAT/0626/4