Obesity

More than 42% of adults struggle with obesity. In Apple Valley, California, Hisham Abukamleh, MD, offers medically supervised weight management to reduce obesity and improve health outcomes for men and women. Schedule a weight loss evaluation with Dr. Abukamleh by phone or request one online today.

What is obesity?

Obesity occurs if you have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Obesity is more severe than being overweight (BMI of 25-29.9), as it dramatically increases the chance of developing chronic diseases. Calculate your BMI by multiplying 703 by your body weight (in pounds) and dividing by your height (in inches) twice. 

Which conditions can obesity cause?

Obesity boosts the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, heart disease, joint pain, and more. It also increases your chances of depression, stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and additional mental health disorders.

What increases my risk of obesity?

Common risk factors for obesity include:

• Family history of obesity
• Poor dietary habits
• Lack of exercise
• Hormone imbalance
• Stress, depression, or anxiety
• Some medications
• Certain medical conditions
• Injuries

Adopting healthy habits is one of the best ways to minimize your risk of becoming overweight or obese.

How is obesity diagnosed?

Dr. Abukamleh diagnoses obesity by weighing you, checking your height, and calculating your BMI. He also discusses your medical history, symptoms, medications, diet, and other lifestyle habits. Dr. Abukamleh determines your target body weight based on your gender, age, and height.

He completes a physical exam and may suggest blood testing to evaluate your hormones, cholesterol, other disease risk factors, and nutritional status.

How is obesity treated?

Your obesity treatment plan consists of medically supervised weight management. Dr. Abukamleh may recommend:

• Customized meal plans
• Individualized exercise recommendations
• Dietary supplements
• Weight loss injections
• Phentermine weight loss medication
• Chronic disease management
• Hormone replacement therapy 
• Lifestyle change counseling

He follows up throughout your weight loss journey and may alter your treatment plan as you move toward your target body weight. You can expect to lose 1-2 pounds (or more) each week during medically supervised weight loss. 

As you begin to drop weight, you’ll notice more energy, mood improvements, and easier chronic disease management. In fact, you might be able to reduce or eliminate medications used for high blood pressure and other disease risk factors. 

Call Dr. Abukamleh at any time with questions or concerns. 

Schedule a weight loss evaluation with Hisham Abukamleh, MD, by phone or request one online today.