Overweight, Obesity, and Your Health: What GPs Want You to Know

In this episode of This Could Save Your Life podcast, hosts Dr Anna Mullins and Dr Catherine Bourke delve into the topic of overweight and obesity. Exploring the intricate relationship between body weight and health, emphasising that body fat alone does not define an individual's health status. Along with the importance of considering various health aspects, including mental, emotional, and social well-being, beyond just physical health.

Dr Bourke and Dr Mullins provide an overview of the multi-faceted causes of obesity, highlighting genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Explaining that obesity is a chronic disease influenced by a society that promotes sedentary lifestyles and convenient access to high-calorie foods. 

They also cover the different methods used to assess whether someone is overweight or obese, including waist measurement, waist-to-hip ratio, and Body Mass Index (BMI), noting the situations where these tools may provide inaccurate results. They further explain the health risks associated with being overweight or obese, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain cancers.

Addressing the challenges of weight loss, Dr Mullins and Dr Bourke discuss the body's natural mechanisms that work against weight loss, and they emphasise the need for a personalised approach to treatment. They explore various interventions, including dietary changes, exercise, medication, and bariatric surgery, and stress the importance of seeking professional medical advice for weight management.

This Could Save Your Life Podcast is under The Good GP podcast, a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network