Get the latest Flash player
View All Videos In This Series
Transcripts
Host: How does excessive weight cause problems?
Dr. William McCarthy: Excessive weight causes medical problems primarily in two-fold manner. The first is that the abdominal fat. Fat cells around the abdomen region actually secrete substances we call them 0:19 or cytokines, but they really hormone like substances. The medical profession is actually starting to look at fat cells as an endocrine organ and as these substances are secreted most of these are inflammatory in nature, they cause problems in blood vessels and problems throughout the body. They may also cause what we call insulin resistance and these conditions lead to heart disease, to stroke, to hypertension, diabetes and all the other consequences that we see.
The second phase is that obesity is a mechanical problem. It may cause an increased pressure on the neck or chest and what may happen is the person could have sleep apnea, which is problem with breathing at nighttime, which can even have fatal consequences. It may cause breathing problems because the person s body is constricted or the contour is changed because of the obesity itself.
Obesity can also cause mechanical problems by just the pressure on the back, the knees and the hips. It is a very common cause of arthritis and may lead eventually to a hip surgery or chronic back pain or chronic disability.
Expert: William McCarthy
Medical Director, Nova ABC Weight Loss Clinic
Dr. William McCarthy is the Medical Director at the NOVA ABC Weight Loss ClinicDr. McCarthy has been in private medical practice in the Northern Virginia area since 1976. He received a BS (Magna cum laude) at Xavier University in Cincinnati, his M.D. degree at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C, and served his internship and residency in Family Practice at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals in More »
About This Video
This video is about obesity and weight issues in our society, which is now recognized by the medical profession as the world's #1 health problem. I will answer your questions about the impact of excess weight; the More »
This expert:5015 views
This video series: 2058 views
This video segment: 149 views
Tags: Obese, Weight, Weight loss, Heavy, Fat, Diet, Exercise, Bariatric, Health, Sickness, Wellness, Healthy, Disease, Body mass, Pounds
Comments: 0 (Read Comments) (Add)
Delicious 
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Stumbleupon
Other Videos
-
This video series will show you how to quit smoking. Eletta Hansen, RN and Certified More »
-
CHAIR FITNESS VIDEO/DVD SERIES – VOLUME # 4 – WITH BLANCHE BLACK HIGHLY More »
-
In this video Trish Muse shows you how to properly align your posture, relieve neck More »
-
This video series will show you how to quit smoking. Eletta Hansen, RN and Certified More »
-
-
Steve Shelov MD FAAP Parenting Expert Chairman of Maimonides Infant and Children's More »
View Comments (Add Comment)