Obesity: More Than Just How You Look

Obesity happens when someone has too much body fat, which can harm their health. Doctors often use a tool called Body Mass Index (BMI) to measure obesity. If your BMI is 30 or higher, you may be classified as obese. However, BMI isn’t perfect—it doesn’t account for things like muscle mass or where fat is stored in the body.

Obesity is a long-term condition that can lead to serious health problems, including:

Type 2 diabetes: When the body can’t properly manage blood sugar levels.

Heart disease and stroke: Obesity can raise blood pressure and cholesterol.

Cancer: Some types of cancer, like breast and colon cancer, are more common in people with obesity.

Liver and kidney issues: Fat buildup in the liver can cause disease.

Sleep problems: Obesity can cause conditions like sleep apnoea, where breathing stops briefly during sleep.

How Obesity Affects Mental Health

Obesity impacts not just the body but also the mind. Many people with obesity experience depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Unfortunately, they often face stigma and unfair treatment from others, even in healthcare settings.

This pressure to fit into society’s beauty standards can lead to unhealthy habits, like crash diets or emotional eating. Feeling judged or isolated makes it harder to focus on improving health, creating a difficult cycle.

Obesity Isn’t Just About Willpower

A common myth is that people with obesity just need to eat less and move more. But it’s not that simple. Many factors can affect a person’s weight, including:

Genetics: Some people are naturally more likely to store fat.

Environment: Access to healthy food and places to exercise can vary.

Life circumstances: Stress, poor sleep, and certain medications can also cause weight gain.

Obesity is a complex health issue, not a personal failure. It requires more than just willpower to manage it successfully.

How To Treat Obesity

Because obesity is a chronic condition, it needs long-term solutions. Healthcare providers now use medical weight management programs to support patients. These programs may include:

Lifestyle changes: Small, steady changes to eating and exercise habits.

Medications: Modern medications have strong evidence for treatment of obesity.

Surgery: For some people, weight-loss surgery (bariatric surgery) is the recommended option.

Many programs also offer mental health support to help people manage emotional eating and cope with stress. In Australia, healthcare professionals—like GPs and pharmacists—are focusing on compassionate, patient-centred care, offering help without judgment.

Why Society’s Attitude Needs to Change

To effectively manage obesity, we need to shift the way we think about it. Shaming people doesn’t help; it only makes things worse. Instead, we need to:

Make healthy food affordable and easier to access.

Encourage physical activity by creating safer spaces for exercise.

Offer respectful, non-judgmental care so people feel comfortable seeking help.

When we treat obesity with understanding, people are more likely to ask for support and make lasting changes to improve their health.

The Bottom Line

Obesity is much more than just how someone looks—it’s a serious health condition that affects both the body and mind. Managing obesity takes time, effort, and the right kind of support. It’s not about quick fixes but about helping people live healthier, happier lives.

By shifting the focus from appearance to health, we can help reduce stigma and offer better care for people living with obesity. With the right support, everyone can take control of their health—regardless of their weight.

If you are suffering from obesity, Medmate is here to help. No judgement, just results driven medical weight loss. Book your free consult today.