Let’s Get Serious About Obesity, Part 5

by Diabetes, For Men, For Women

Obesity is a major health issue, especially in our community and it appears to be getting worse.  Physicians are having difficulty dealing with obesity among black women because it is a sensitive subject.  As a result, many of them never receive the proper information because physicians feel intimidated discussing the weight problem.  I rarely will have an obese woman discuss her weight problem at an office visit.

Several years ago, a new word, “diabeisty”, was coined.  It is used to describe the relationship between obesity and diabetes. Most people are aware that obese women will experience diabetes if proper weight management is not obtained.

It may not be appreciated that diabetes is a major risk factor for developing heart attacks, strokes, hypertension, blindness, peripheral vascular disease, and burning feet.  This is seen much earlier among African American women and men.

One final point, physicians are mandated to maintain a record of your weight/BMI in conjunction with other vital signs, at each visit.  This measurement is predictive of a major health risk in the future.

Your opinion matters.

 

Thaddeus J. Bell, MD
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Thaddeus J. Bell, MD

Founder

I am Dr. Thaddeus John Bell, closing the gap in health disparities for African Americans and the underserved.