Weight loss may help improve some of your patients’ weight-related comorbidities1-4
For a deeper look into some of these conditions, tap on each weight-related comorbidity to explore the role obesity can play in your patients’ health.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Osteoarthritis (OA)
Prediabetes
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Obesity is the first thing you see. Don’t make it the last thing you talk about
Obesity is associated with at least 60 weight-related comorbidities, some of which can be improved through weight loss.1-4
While the majority of patients and HCPs agree that weight loss of 10% may be beneficial to their health, patients may be waiting for HCPs to take that important first step and discuss weight management.1*
Weight-related comorbidities are just that: medical conditions that may often be associated with obesity. Weight loss of 5% to 15% or greater may result in improvements in many of these comorbidities1:
- Up to 45% of adults with obesity are estimated to have OSA compared with ~25% of the general adult population5
- Weight loss of 10% or more can significantly improve apnea-hypopnea index in OSA1
- Treatment of patients with overweight or obesity and GERD should include weight management6
- In these patients, the weight-loss goal should be 10% of body weight or greater3
- Obesity is closely associated with increased morbidity and mortality from CVD2,7-9
- Obesity has been shown to increase the risk of atherosclerosis and CVD7
- Patients with overweight or obesity and asthma should be treated with weight loss using lifestyle interventions, but additional treatment modalities may be considered3
- For these patients, the weight-loss goal should be at least 7% to 8%3
- 50% to 90% of patients with obesity are estimated to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease compared with 15% to 30% of the general population10
†While these data are specific to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the presently accepted term of MASLD has been applied.
- Weight loss of 5% to 10% can help improve symptoms in men and women1
- Weight loss of 2.5% to >15% can help improve glycemic control; greater weight loss is associated with greater glycemic improvement1
- Between 40% and 80% of women diagnosed with PCOS are reported to also have overweight or obesity11
- With a 2% to 5% weight loss, patients with obesity can improve certain PCOS symptoms, including an improvement in ovulatory cycles1
- Weight loss of more than 5% to 10% is needed for significant improvement in serum testosterone3
- Weight loss of 5% to 10% helps improve knee functionality, pain, walking distance, and speed1
- Weight loss of 2% to 5% helps improve ovulatory cycle, with more weight loss producing a more robust effect1
- Metabolic syndrome is a clustering of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk factors defined by the NCEP ATP III as the concurrent presence of at least 3 of the following risk factors: abdominal obesity, raised triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and elevated blood glucose12
HDL, high-density lipoprotein; NCEP ATP III, National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III.
- Weight loss of 2.5% to 10% can help prevent diabetes in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance1
- Weight loss of 2.5% to >15% is associated with greater glycemic improvement in people with elevated triglycerides1
- Weight loss of 5% to >15% is associated with HDL increase (not true for BMI >40)1
BMI, body mass index; HDL, high-density lipoprotein.
- A weight loss of at least 5% to 15% (or more, as necessary) is recommended to achieve blood pressure reduction goals in a program that also includes diet and exercise3
- 13 cancers are associated with excess weight and obesity4
- About 40% of all cancers diagnosed in the US have been associated with overweight and obesity4
*Data from a survey that examined obesity-related perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors among ~3,000 adults with obesity and ~600 HCPs.
HCP, health care professional.
DISEASE PROGRESSION
Comorbidities of obesity brochure
This brochure includes an overview of some common weight-related comorbidities and the impact weight loss may have on them.
DISEASE PROGRESSION
Obesity is caused by a range of factors13,14
INITIATING A PLAN
Patients may be waiting for health care professionals to discuss weight management
References:
1. Ryan DH, Yockey SR. Weight loss and improvement in comorbidity: differences at 5%, 10%, 15%, and over. Curr Obes Rep. 2017;6(2):187-194.
2. Tondt J, Freshwater M, Hurtado Andrade M, et al. Obesity algorithm 2024. Obesity Medicine Association. January 2024. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://obesitymedicine.org/resources/obesity-algorithm/
3. Garvey WT, Mechanick JI, Brett EM, et al; Reviewers of the AACE/ACE Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for medical care of patients with obesity. Endocr Pract. 2016;22(suppl 3):1-203.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity and cancer. Published November 7, 2023. Accessed May 24, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/risk-factors/obesity.html
5. Romero-Corral A, Caples SM, Lopez-Jimenez F, Somers VK. Interactions between obesity and obstructive sleep apnea: implications for treatment. Chest. 2010;137:711-719.
6. Thalheimer A, Bueter M. Excess body weight and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Visc Med. 2021;37(4):267-272.
7. Powell-Wiley TM, Poirier P, Burke LE, et al; American Heart Association Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing; Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Epidemiology and Prevention; and Stroke Council. Obesity and cardiovascular disease: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2021;143(21):e984-e1010.
8. Lopez-Jimenez F, Almahmeed W, Bays H, et al. Obesity and cardiovascular disease: mechanistic insights and management strategies. A joint position by the World Heart Federation and World Obesity Federation. Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2022;29(17):2218-2237.
9. Raisi-Estabragh Z, Kobo O, Mieres JH, et al. Racial disparities in obesity-related cardiovascular mortality in the United States: temporal trends from 1999 to 2020. J Am Heart Assoc. 2023;12(18):e028409.
10. Divella R, Mazzocca A, Daniele A, Sabba C, Paradiso A. Obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and adipocytokines network in promotion of cancer. Int J Biol Sci. 2019;15(3):610-616.
11. Sam S. Obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome. Obes Manag. 2007;3(2):69-73.
12. Cleveland Clinic. Metabolic syndrome. Published September 13, 2023. Accessed July 5, 2024. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10783-metabolic-syndrome
13. Lee A, Cardel M, Donahoo WT. Social and environmental factors influencing obesity. Updated October 12, 2019. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt BB, Blackman MR, et al, eds. Endotext. [Internet]. South Dartmouth, MA: MDText.com; 2000. Accessed September 23, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278977/
14. Thaker VV. Genetic and epigenetic causes of obesity. Adolesc Med State Art Rev. 2017;28(2):379-405.
