By Federico M. Richter, MD
Obesity is a major concern for many health-related issues. According to the CDC, more than one-third of the U.S. adult population is obese. And this overweight nation is at serious risk for developing chronic illnesses and disorders. Obesity can lead to type II diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer.
Calculating Obesity
Although some risk factors for obesity are physically calculable, others are established by physical symptoms affecting your health.
When calculating and determining your risks, your BMI (Body Mass Index) is an excellent place to start. Based on your height and weight, if your calculations are over 30 BMI, then you are thought to be obese. Taking into consideration that humans come in all shapes and sizes, there are other tests that practitioners will include in your obesity estimates, like waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist to height ratio (WHtR) measurements.
Why are these measurements so important? People that are overweight, especially in the midsection are prone to secondary health complications. Large midsections very often contain visceral fat, which is deep within the organs.
Contributing health issues and disorders are as follows:
• Arthritis
• Coronary heart disease
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Sleep apnea
• Stroke
• VASCULAR DISEASE
It’s common for people that are overweight to be unable to see their ankles, and they may be so affected by the swelling of their ankles and calves that they cannot walk far or get their shoes on. One of the most common causes of leg swelling by far is bad veins circulation and coupled with obesity; this means that disease states are needing to be addressed by a vein specialist.
One of the most common causes of ankle and leg swelling is a blood clot from the “damaged veins” or Venus Insufficiency. This is the most critical possibility, due to the likelihood of it being life-threatening.
About Federico M. Richter, MD
Dr. Richter was born and raised in Argentina and grew up in a family of vein doctors. His Grandfather, one of the first vein specialists in Argentina, helped pioneer sclerotherapy for treatment of varicose and spider veins in the 1940s. His Father has been treating veins for over 45 years.
Dr. Richter recently re-located from the busy suburbs of Indianapolis where he completed his residency and practiced for 5 years. Since completion of his residency here in the United States, he has also focused on the newest developments in minimally invasive vein treatments. Dr. Richter received his medical degree in Argentina in 2003 from Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. He then completed a year of general surgery and a 3-year Fellowship in vein and lymphatic disorders in 2007. As a venous and lymphatic medicine specialist, he is dedicated to treating varicose and spider veins and their underlying causes.
With over a decade of experience in the specialized medical field of diagnosing and treating vein disease, Dr. Richter was one of the first doctors to use lasers to treat a variety of vein diseases in Argentina. Certified by the American Board of Venous and Lymphatic Medicine and an active member of the American College Of Phlebology, Dr. Richter has also accumulated an impressive list of qualifications and educational accomplishments during the course of his career.
Dr. Richter’s 1st priority is the well-being and quality of life his patients in the Bradenton, Sarasota, Sun City, Ruskin, and surrounding areas.
To schedule a consultation, call
Florida Vein Center
941-907-3400
6050 53rd Ave. East (SR70), Suite A, Bradenton, FL 34203