The alarming link between obesity and cardiometabolic conditions
Over the past 20 years, the prevalence of obesity increased from 30.5% to 41.9% in the United States¹. This translates to nearly 3 in every 4 adults in the US being either overweight or obese, and therefore at a significantly increased risk for cardiometabolic conditions²,³. However, effective obesity management can substantially diminish the incidence of cardiometabolic conditions.
“By treating one disease, obesity, we can potentially mitigate hundreds of other obesity-related conditions, including hypertension,” explains Dr. Ania Jastreboff, director of the Yale Obesity Research Center, in a recent blog for Yale School of Medicine.
In a study conducted by the Milken Institute, researchers quantified risk of chronic conditions associated with obesity using a population-attributable risk methodology.
The comparative analysis revealed that individuals with obesity, in comparison to those with a normal weight, have a relative risk of: 4
- 3.4x risk of Type 2 diabetes
- 2.4x risk of developing hypertension
- 1.69x risk of developing congestive heart failure
These statistics spotlight the vital importance of implementing preventive measures and targeted interventions to curb the rising tide of obesity and its far-reaching consequences for total health.
Cardiometabolic Conditions: A Closer Examination
The phrase “cardiometabolic conditions” refers to a wide range of health challenges, including diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure, which significantly impact the heart, kidneys, metabolic functions, blood clotting mechanisms, and inflammation processes. Understanding the intricacies of these interconnected health challenges is crucial for navigating the complexities of maintaining overall total health5.
“With regards to whole-person care, oftentimes cardiometabolic conditions really impact each other. A person with heart failure and cardiovascular disease may have their symptoms exacerbated by blood pressure, blood glucose, or weight,” explains Dr. Mansur Shomali, Chief Medical Officer at Welldoc.
The Pivotal Role of Digital Health in Addressing Obesity and Cardiometabolic Conditions
In today’s world, where technology is deeply integrated into daily routines, digital health stands as a valuable resource in addressing obesity and its subsequent impact on cardiometabolic health. Digital health solutions provide innovative tools for the prevention, management, and treatment of comorbid conditions. These digital health solutions offer a promising avenue to address the complex interplay of factors contributing to cardiometabolic health challenges by tailoring interventions through the power of artificial intelligence (AI).
With the advent of weight loss medications, like GLP-1s, and the adoption of sophisticated sensors, like continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), even more layers of complexity have been added to the management of personal health. In response, there is a clear demand for effective and scalable solutions that streamline self-management such as insights into personal data trends, medication support, and nutrition, facilitate the flow of data insights to care teams, and foster enhanced health outcomes.
Welldoc recognizes the importance of a comprehensive multi-condition platform and has broadened its offerings to encompass weight management with medication support, to support individuals throughout their health journey, while also addressing conditions like diabetes and heart failure.
Powered by connected data, AI, and clinical rigor, the Welldoc platform offers users immediate, tailored digital coaching to assist in managing their health autonomously and improving coordination with healthcare providers to achieve treatment objectives. Users can manage their weight loss, any medications, health data, and devices within the Welldoc App, consolidating the oversight of their health conditions on a single platform.
The integration of technology within healthcare provides a necessary snapshot into individual cardiometabolic health, providing the foundation to improve access to care and the ability to scale in support of broader populations. This convergence marks a critical point at which digital health innovations can drive progress in personalized prevention, and clinical oversight, and offer a healthier outlook for those living with the challenges of cardiometabolic conditions and obesity.
Interested in learning more about Welldoc’s total health approach to care?
References:
- Stierman, Bryan et al. (2021). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–March 2020 Prepandemic Data Files Development of Files and Prevalence Estimates for Selected Health Outcomes. (158).
- NHLBI. 2013. Managing Overweight and Obesity in Adults: Systematic Evidence Review from the Obesity Expert Panel. [PDF-5.89MB]
- Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults. [PDF-1.25MB]
- Waters, H., & Graf, M. (2018). America’s obesity crisis: The health and economic costs of excess weight. Milken Institute. https://milkeninstitute.org/report/americas-obesity-crisis-health-and-economic-costs-excess-weight
- Petrie JR, Guzik TJ, Touyz RM. Diabetes, Hypertension, and Cardiovascular Disease: Clinical Insights and Vascular Mechanisms. Can J Cardiol. 2018 May;34(5):575-584. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2017.12.005. Epub 2017 Dec 11. PMID: 29459239; PMCID: PMC5953551
