What Are Weight-Adjacent Medical Conditions?
Weight-adjacent medical conditions are health issues that are often impacted by excess weight and/or make weight management more difficult. These conditions may not be solely caused by weight, but weight often plays a significant role in how they develop, progress, and affect your daily life.
At Revive Health, we recognize that addressing these conditions is essential for lasting wellness and we are happy to help navigate this as part of your Medical Weight Loss Program.
If you’re seeking support for chronic conditions but not focused on weight loss, our Chronic Care Management services provide the same expert, personalized care to help you feel your best. Schedule today!
Common Weight-Adjacent Medical Conditions
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Extra weight can increase strain on your heart, raising blood pressure. High blood pressure can also make it harder for your body to regulate weight.
High Cholesterol and Lipid Problems: Weight gain can disrupt how your body processes fats, leading to high cholesterol and triglycerides, which can in turn affect your metabolism.
Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance: Excess fatty tissue, especially around the abdomen, interferes with insulin function. High blood sugars and insulin resistance contribute to weight gain, creating a frustrating cycle.
Sleep Apnea: Extra weight can obstruct airways during sleep, causing poor rest and daytime fatigue—both of which can affect appetite control and metabolism.
Joint Pain (Osteoarthritis): Added weight places strain on your joints, while pain and reduced mobility can make physical activity harder, impacting weight management.
Fatty Liver Disease: Weight-related fat buildup in the liver can contribute to liver inflammation and ultimately cirrhosis.
Heart Disease: A combination of weight and these weight-related conditions can raise the risk of heart complications.
Mood and Mental Health Concerns: Depression, anxiety, emotional eating, and body image struggles are common for patients navigating weight challenges. Mental health issues can both result from and contribute to weight gain, making compassionate, whole-person care essential.
Menopause: During the menopausal transition, hormone levels naturally decline. This shift typically leads to slower metabolism through changes in body composition, as well as sleep and mood changes, making it easier to gain weight and more difficult to lose. Carrying excess weight can also worsen menopause symptoms and increase your risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease — all of which become more common after menopause.
Why This Matters
These conditions don’t simply exist alongside excess weight - they interact with it. They can make weight management more difficult, while excess weight can worsen their effects, creating a challenging cycle.
At Revive Health, we treat both conditions together when appropriate, but we also recognize that these conditions can, and should, be managed on their own. Whether your goal is weight loss or improved chronic health, we’ll create a personalized plan that supports your physical and emotional wellbeing.
***Please be aware that, as we do not currently have on-site laboratory or imaging services, we are not equipped to deal with urgent medical concerns (ex. significant illness, orthopedic injuries, etc)***
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