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Get help caring for the Black girls or women in your family managing obesity-related health issues.
Learn more about the language used in weight management care with healthcare providers.
Glossary
Terms to know
E
Endocrinologist
A physician who has received specialized training in diagnosing and treating hormone-related diseases and conditions, including obesity, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, infertility, and adrenal disorders.
G
Gasteroenterologist
A physician who has specializes treating specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the digestive system, which includes organs like the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts
G
GLP-1 Injections
Glucagon-like peptide-1, is a natural hormone that helps regulate blood sugar, digestion, and appetite. Medications that mimic this hormone, or GLP-1 agonists, are used to manage insulin release when blood sugar is high, slowing stomach emptying, and reducing appetite by signaling fullness to the brain.
S
Semaglutide injections
A type of weight-management medication that reduces your appetite and helps you feel fuller by slowing down stomach emptying. It's also prescribed to treat diabetes.
A
Adioposity / Adiposity based chronic disease
Another name for obesity. Rather than focusing just on weight, ABCD takes into account the health impact of excess weight, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. This term identifies obesity as a chronic disease, places the focus on the health risks of having excess weight or adipose tissue (body fat), and avoids the stigma associated with the term "obesity."
B
Bariatric surgery
Any type of surgical procedure performed on the stomach and/or intestines to help bring about long-term weight loss. Also known as obesity surgery.
B
Body Mass Index
A screening tool that uses your height and weight to determine if you are underweight (BMI less than 18.5), of healthy weight (BMI between 18.5 and 25), overweight (BMI between 25 and 30), or obese (BMI 30 or above). BMI provides a quick estimate of body fat and is not affected by age, gender, or race. However, it does not account for factors such as muscle mass, age, sex, or location of fat in your body.
D
Disordered eating behaviors (DEBs)
Abnormal eating behaviors, including bulimia, anorexia nervosa, binge eating, and purging. Because these behaviors can make it harder for you to recognize your body's hunger and fullness signals, they may lead you to overeat and gain excess weight. Also known as eating disorders.
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