Every patient is unique in our eyes. We study your case and perform multiple tests to better understand your baseline condition:
- General physical examination: heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature; heart and lung sounds and abdominal examination.
- General lab tests, blood and/or urine, ECG, and chest X-ray.
- Body measurements: study of body composition (weight, height, body mass index, measurement of body fat and muscle mass, abdominal circumference).
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests the following classification:
- Severely underweight: Below 16 kg/m2
- Moderately underweight: 16-18.4 kg/m2
- Normal: 18.5-24.9 Kg/m2
- Overweight: 25-29.9 Kg/m2
- Obesity class I: 30-34.9 Kg/m2
- Obesity class II: 35-39.9 Kg/m2
- Obesity class III (severe or morbid): above 40 Kg/m2
*Bear in mind that BMI varies with age and sex, and body type can also have an impact on this number.
- Measurement of waist circumference. Abdominal fat stored around the waist can greatly increase patients' risk of heart disease and diabetes. The WHO has defined the maximum values for a healthy abdominal circumference as 88 centimeters for women and 102 cm for men.
- Medical history and other health problems. Your specialist will ask you about your medical history to order additional tests and to evaluate whether you may be predisposed to potential metabolic problems.