Today, many more people are interested in finding a way to reduce their weight. Many Americans struggle with obesity, and these numbers continue to increase each year. But just as many people are focused on doing something about their weight. The CDC recently reported that 17% of American adults are on a diet or healthy eating plan.
Many people are also becoming more aware that managing their weight involves more than just calories out and calories in. This is an area where Weight Management Lab Tests come in. These tests reveal more information about what goes on inside the body.
Here is more information on Weight Loss Lab Tests and ways they might assist you to shed a few excess pounds.
What Is Obesity?
The CDC uses BMI, or Adult Body Mass Index as a definition for obesity. It would help if you had your current height and weight to check on your BMI using what is known as the BMI Index Chart.
If your BMI is between 25.0 and 30.0, you are considered overweight. If your BMI exceeds 30.0, then you are obese. If you have a BMI of over 40.0, then you are classified as severely obese.
What You Need to Know About Obesity
Many people start to gain weight as they get older. The stress of balancing family life and work often makes it challenging to manage a healthy eating plan. It is also not always easy or possible to keep up with regular exercise.
Other factors, such as stress, may also affect your weight management ability. Stress increases cortisol levels, and this can cause your body to retain fat. If you believe this may be one of your problems, a Weight Management Test can detect if you have cortisol levels that are raised in your bloodstream.
What Are the Risk Factors for Obesity?
Many risk factors often cause people to struggle with managing their weight. These also include factors that we cannot control, including our family history, ethnicity, gender, sex, and age.
Other factors, including activity levels, lifestyle, and diet, also have an impact on our weight.
Weight Gain Causes
Whether you are battling with your genes or your lifestyle is not healthy, this can cause you to pick up weight. The more apparent factors include eating an excess of calories, particularly from foods with high levels of sugar, fat, or both. When you do not get enough exercise, this can also lead to significant weight gain.
The less commonly considered factors include high stress levels and not getting enough sleep. These factors affect your hormones and often make it more difficult to control your appetite.
What Are the Symptoms and Signs of Obesity?
There aren't any specific symptoms linked to obesity. If you are trying to find out if you are obese or overweight, you should not be relying on BMI alone. It is also important to check the circumference of your waist.
If your waist circumference is high, this could be something to be concerned about. This may mean that you have high levels of "visceral fat," which can result in other health complications.
About Weight Management Laboratory Tests
The first step you need to take is to find out what is going on inside your body. A CMP (comprehensive metabolic test) examines your metabolism. It also detects how your metabolism is functioning. This displays the way your body uses energy and food.
This is a test that also checks how your kidneys and liver are functioning. It may also detect abnormalities in your blood sugar levels. Your health care provider may use this test to discover any underlying problems that might cause you to find it harder to shed those excess pounds.
Hormone Tests
The hormones related to stress, thyroid function, and sex can also significantly impact weight management. Here are some of the tests used to find out whether you might have an imbalance in one or more of these areas:
- Insulin
- Stress hormones such as cortisol
- Thyroid hormones, including T4, T3, and TSH
- DHEA-S
- Sex hormones such as testosterone (free and total)
Lower than normal or elevated levels might be an indication of underlying conditions. Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes or treatments to help you balance these hormones. Once your hormone levels start to balance out, weight loss and appetite control usually become easier.
Early tests can also be used to diagnose the start of a condition known as insulin resistance. When caught early enough, you can keep this condition under control with a few lifestyle changes. Losing weight might also help you to lower the risks associated with developing Type 2 Diabetes.
How Are Weight Management Tests Performed
A weight management lab test is ordered online and involves having the test drawn at one of our authorized patient service centers. You should receive your results in a couple of days, but this will also depend on the test type.
After reviewing your results, your healthcare provider will usually offer treatment options or lifestyle advice to help you to find ways to keep your weight under control.
FAQs About Weight Management Lab Tests
Most people haven't considered using Weight Loss Lab Tests to assist them when it comes to losing weight. Here are a few of the most common questions asked:
- What types of blood tests are used for losing weight?
- Is there a test available to check on my metabolism?
- What types of tests are used for weight gain?
A set of comprehensive baseline-biomarker tests is usually the initial step. It might give you an answer right away or detect an area where your doctor may decide to carry out more tests.
These tests involve more than just looking better and losing weight. They are also used to detect more serious types of health conditions, including diabetes, that might contribute to "metabolic syndrome." The sooner you make the necessary lifestyle changes or start treatment, the more you improve your chances of reversing or delaying these conditions.
Weight Loss Lab Tests Give You More Control
Weight Loss Lab Tests often give you an idea of how your body works and what it needs to perform best. Along with your doctor's advice, finding a plan that will work best for you becomes easier. These tests could be the first important step you need to take to achieve long-term and lasting weight loss results.
Ulta Lab Tests provides highly reliable and accurate tests. These tests can help you make more informed decisions when it comes to your health. Here is what we offer:
- Confidential and Secure Results
- No Referral or Insurance is Needed
- Affordable Prices, including Doctor's Order
- Satisfaction Guarantee
Order a Weight Management Lab Test today. For most tests, you will receive your results in your private online patient portal within 24 to 48 hours.
Take your health back and monitor your progress with Ulta Lab Tests.
