Obesity is a medical condition that puts people at risk for various chronic issues. It is when a person weighs much above their ideal body weight range and has excess body fat. This in itself is detrimental to the quality of life. In addition, the increased body weight puts you at risk of various problems, like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and even cancers.

Diabetes is one of the most common health conditions associated with obesity.  Most obese people, especially women, are at high risk of developing type-2 diabetes. Even so, obesity and diabetes mellitus contribute to important risk factors for developing CVD (Cardiovascular Diseases) which  is the leading cause of deaths in women.

One of the common ways of diagnosing obesity is by calculating the body mass index (BMI). However, the comprehensive weight management tests offered by Apollo 24|7 can help better ascertain the mainspring of these weight related health problems.

Usually, based on BMI results, people can be grouped into five categories, such as: 

• <18.5 – Underweight
• 18.5-24.9 – Healthy weight
• 25-29.9 – Overweight
• 30-34 – Class 1 Obesity
• 35-39 – Class 2 Obesity
• 40+ – Class 3 Obesity

A few common factors influencing the occurrence of obesity are as follows:

• Genetic inheritance 
• Poor lifestyle choices, such as unhealthy diets, liquid calories, etc. 
• Sedentary lifestyle 
• Disorders like Prader-Willi syndrome, Arthritis, Cushing syndrome, etc. 
• Certain medications, such as steroids, beta-blockers, antidepressants, anti-seizure and antipsychotic medications. 
• Pregnancy

Opting for a range of weight management tests online can help with early detection of the diseases associated with being overweight. Clinical diagnosis followed by tests, can help you make the right lifestyle choices in managing your weight better.

Medical Test Packages Available

Weight management tests can play a key role in helping you lead a healthy life. The test results can help determine multiple underlying health conditions and their root causes, including the reason for your obesity. The tests have been categorised into the following packages:

• Apollo Full Body Checkup Male - Advance: There are 88 tests in  the package. These include tests for blood studies (anaemia), liver tests, heart (cardiac), hepatitis screening, cancer screening etc. 
• Apollo Full Body Checkup Female - Advance: A comprehensive range of tests, especially curated by doctor Dr. Ashish Chauhan, to rule out the risks of chronic diseases; these include CBC, ESR, LFT, KFT, CRP, complete urine examination, thyroid profile, iron, uric acid, vitamins B12 and D3, among others. 
• Apollo Senior Citizens Care Female - Advance: Recommended for senior citizens aged 60 years and above, this curated package by Dr Steve Paul Manjaly, facilitates the diagnosis of most medical conditions that affect the elderly.
• Lipid Profile: Also known as Complete Lipid Profile/ Serum Lipid Profile, this test determines the amount of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides.
• HbA1c, Glycated Haemoglobin: The HbA1c blood test measures your average level of blood sugar over the past 90 days, and  is done to know whether a person is prediabetic or prone to diabetes.
• Glucose, Fasting: Also Known as FBS, FBG, Fasting Blood Sugar, this test determines the quantity of glucose, or sugar, in the bloodstream.
• Triglycerides - Serum: This test determines the levels of triglycerides in your blood. Elevated levels may indicate a risk factor for atherosclerosis.

In addition to the above-listed packages, you can also avail of 12 independent medical tests. Some of these cover areas like: 

• Lipoprotein A 
• Cholesterol- Serum
• Glucose, Random
• Non-HDL, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels

When to Opt for These Tests?

It is necessary to take weight management tests for all age groups and gender. This helps medical professionals understand the root causes of obesity and other associated health complications. Depending on the test results, doctors can decide whether to prescribe lifestyle and diet changes, or medications for weight loss. On-time diagnosis and intervention can reduce the risk of any fatal outcome due to excess overweight.