The onset of obesity is usually gradual. Symptoms include:
Increased weight
Thickness around the midsection
Obvious areas of fat deposits
It’s important to remember that fat deposited in your midsection is as much of a health risk as increasing total body weight. If you are developing a thick midsection even though your weight is not going up, you may be losing muscle mass from disuse along with dangerous fat accumulation in your abdomen.
This may place you at increased risk for heart (cardiovascular) disease.
References
Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 14th ed. McGraw-Hill; 1998.
The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. 17th ed. Merck & Co.; 1999.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
