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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

Symptoms associated with obesity can include:

  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Snoring
  • Sleep apnea
  • Pain in your back or joints
  • Excessive sweating
  • Always feeling hot
  • Rashes or infection in folds of your skin
  • Feeling out of breath with minor exertion
  • Daytime sleepiness or fatigue
  • Depression

When to see a doctor
If you have symptoms associated with obesity such as the ones above, see your doctor or health care provider. You and your doctor can discuss your weight-loss options. Even modest weight loss can improve or prevent problems related to obesity. Weight loss is usually possible through dietary changes, increased physical activity and behavior changes. In some cases, prescription medications or weight-loss surgery may be options.

Causes Definition
References
  1. Defining overweight and obesity. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/defining.htm. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
  2. Ogden CL, et al. Obesity among adults in the United States - No statistically significant change since 2003-2004. NCHS data brief no 1. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2007.
  3. Still CD, et al. Obesity. In: Rakel & Bope: Conn's Current Therapy. 60th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/117958748-3/0/1621/295.html#4-u1.0-B978-1. Accessed Feb. 20, 2009.
  4. Bray GA. Etiology and natural history of obesity. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
  5. Kushner RF. Obesity management. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America. 2007;36:191.
  6. Duval K, et al. Health-related quality of life in morbid obesity. Obesity Surgery. 2006;16:574.
  7. Hainer V, et al. Treatment modalities of obesity: What fits whom? Diabetes Care. 2008;31(suppl 2):S269.
  8. Understanding adult obesity. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/understanding.htm. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
  9. Bessesen DH. Update on obesity. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2008;93:2027.
  10. Bray GA. Overview of therapy for obesity in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
  11. Svetkey LP, et al. Comparison of strategies for sustaining weight loss: The Weight Loss Maintenance Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 2008;299:1139.
  12. The practical guide: Identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/prctgd_c.pdf. Accessed Feb. 25, 2009.
  13. Donnelly JE, et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand: Appropriate physical activity intervention strategies for weight loss and prevention of weight regain for adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2009;41:459.
  14. Sacks F, et al. Comparison of weight-loss diets with different compositions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:859.
  15. Mun EC, et al. Surgical management of obesity. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 26, 2009.
  16. Hensrud DD (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 2, 2009.
  17. Anderson CA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 3, 2009.

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May 9, 2009

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