Misdiagnosis of Obesity

Alternative diagnoses list for Obesity:

For a diagnosis of Obesity, the following list of conditions have been mentioned in sources as possible alternative diagnoses to consider during the diagnostic process for Obesity:

• Fluid retention
• Edema
• See also various underlying causes of obesity
• See other causes of weight gain
• Increased caloric intake
• Congestive heart failure
• Cirrhosis
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Cushings syndrome
• Hypothyroidism
• Alcoholism
• Menopause
• Polycystic ovary disease
• Syndrome x
• Medications
• Pregnancy
• Growth hormone deficiency
• Hypothalmic disorders
• Congenital leptin deficiency
• Defects in MSH
• Genetic syndromes of obesity

Diseases for which Obesity may be an alternative diagnosis

The other diseases for which Obesity is listed as a possible alternative diagnosis in their lists include:

• Cushing's syndrome
• Hypertension
• Hypothyroidism
• Polycystic ovary syndrome

Obesity: Hidden Causes Misdiagnosed?

Causes of Obesity may include these medical conditions:

• Overeating - see causes of overeating
• Physical disorders that may cause or exacerbate obesity include:
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Familial obesity
• more causes...»

Rare Types of Obesity:

• Obesity related to polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Obesity related to cushing's syndrome
• Obesity related to syndrome X
• Obesity related to myxedema
• More rare types »

Obesity Diagnosis: Book Excerpts

• Ask the Following Questions - OBESITY, PATHOLOGIC
• Ask the Following Questions - FEMORAL MASS OR SWELLING
• Ask the Following Questions - RECTAL MASS
• Differential Diagnosis - Rectal Masses
• Differential Diagnosis - Scrotal Masses
• Differential Diagnosis - Obesity
• Approach to the Diagnosis - OBESITY
• Approach to the Diagnosis - BACK MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - EPIGASTRIC MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - EXTREMITY MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - HYPOGASTRIC MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - RIGHT UPPER QUADRANT MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - LEFT LOWER QUADRANT MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - LEFT UPPER QUADRANT MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - NASAL MASS OR SWELLING
• Approach to the Diagnosis - RIGHT LOWER QUADRANT MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - CHEST WALL MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - RECTAL MASS
• History and physical examination - Abdominal distention
• Diagnosis - Obesity
• History and physical examination - Abdominal distention
• History - Mediastinal Mass
• History - Scrotal Mass
• Differential Overview - Obesity
• History - Abdominal distention
• Clinical Features and Diagnosis - Obesity
• History and physical examination - Abdominal distention
• Approach to the Diagnosis - BACK MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - EXTREMITY MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - FACE MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - OBESITY
• Approach to the Diagnosis - PULSATILE MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - Epigastric Mass
• Approach to the Diagnosis - Hypogastric Mass
• Approach to the Diagnosis - CHEST WALL MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - Right Upper Quadrant Mass
• Approach to the Diagnosis - NASAL MASS OR SWELLING
• Approach to the Diagnosis - Left Lower Quadrant Mass
• Approach to the Diagnosis - Left Upper Quadrant Mass
• Approach to the Diagnosis - RECTAL MASS
• Approach to the Diagnosis - Right Lower Quadrant Mass
• Mediastinal Mass - DIAGNOSIS - Mediastinal Mass

Obesity: Medical Mistakes

Related medical mistakes may include:

• Obesity -- Health Mistakes
• Hypertension -- Health Mistakes
• Cholesterol -- Health Mistakes
• Diabetes -- Health Mistakes
• Metabolic Syndrome -- Health Mistakes
• more mistakes...»

Common Misdiagnoses and Obesity

Metabolic syndrome often undiagnosed: Metabolic syndrome, also known as Syndrome X, is an often overlooked medical condition that causes a cluster of chronic symptoms. There are often four symptoms and conditions combined: obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure), high cholesterol, and diabetes (Type 2 diabetes) or in come cases pre-diabetes initially. See the introduction to metabolic syndrome.

Undiagnosed causes of weight gain and obesity: Although obesity may be related to lifestyle issues, there are also a number of medical causes of weight gain or obesity that may go undiagnosed. Some of the various possibilities include thyroid disorders (i.e. hypothyroidism), polycystic ovarian syndrome (i.e. PCOS), and various other causes of weight gain. Metabolic syndrome with its related diabetes (Type 2 diabetes) is also a consideration, although possibly less helpful in terms of treatment. See also misdiagnosis of obesity or causes of weight gain.

Over-diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension in obese patients: A diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension, particularly pulmonary arterial hypertension, is often a misdiagnosis in obese patients. Exertional dyspnea leads to a diagnostic reading of high right ventricular systolic pressure, which seems to indicate pulmonary hypertension, but is ultimately found to be an incorrect diagnosis. See misdiagnosis of pulmonary hypertension.

Obesity-related conditions undiagnosed in children: A variety of conditions are associated with obesity (see obesity), but these tend to be undiagnosed more often in child patients than in adults. Some of the overlooked conditions may include hypertension, diabetes, acanthosis nigricans, etc. See misdiagnosis of obesity or introduction to obesity.

Misdiagnosed weight-related causes of infertility: A woman's weight status can affect her level of fertility. Although obesity or overweight can in themselves reduce fertility, there are other weight-related or associated medical conditions that further reduce fertility. Some of these hidden causes include COPD, diabetes, thyroid disorders (overactive thyroid or underactive thyroid) and metabolic syndrome. See also other causes of infertility.

Various reasons for obesity: Various studies have shown that approximately 10% of prepubertal and 15% of adolescent age groups are obese. Parents often blame obesity in children on their diet but endocrine or metabolic causes must be readily differentiated from exogenous obesity by a simple physical examination and an assessment of the linear growth. Children with exogenous obesity tend to have an accelarated linear growth whereas children with secondary causes are usually short. Some congenital or inherited disorders associated with obesity which must be kept in mind include Prader- Willi syndrome, Laurence Moon Biedl syndrome and Beckwith Wiedemann syndrome. Endocrine disorders in children taht rarely cause obesity include hypothyoidism, Cushing's syndrome, insulinomas and Frohlich's syndrome.

Medical news summaries about misdiagnosis of Obesity:

The following medical news items are relevant to misdiagnosis of Obesity:

• Breathing difficulties in obese people frequently misdiagnosed as asthma
• Implanted device alleviates previously untreatable seizure problems
• New studies show that previously determined numbers of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome sufferers were underestimated
• Obese women might be misdiagnosed with asthma
• Overweight children being underdiagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes
• Patient obesity can cause imaging results to lead to misdiagnosis or no diagnosis
• Rare overeating disease
• Weighty issue with prostate cancer
• Young teens cancer misdiagnosed
• More news »

General Misdiagnosis Articles

Read these general articles with an overview of misdiagnosis issues.

• Misdiagnosis Overview
• How Common is Misdiagnosis?
• Over-Diagnosed Diseases
• Under-Diagnosed Diseases
• Types of Misdiagnosis
• Wrong Type Misdiagnosis
• Why Does Misdiagnosis Occur?
• Difficult Diseases to Diagnose
• More premium medical articles ...

About misdiagnosis:

When checking for a misdiagnosis of Obesity or confirming a diagnosis of Obesity, it is useful to consider what other medical conditions might be possible misdiagnoses or other alternative conditions relevant to diagnosis. These alternate diagnoses of Obesity may already have been considered by your doctor or may need to be considered as possible alternative diagnoses or candidates for misdiagnosis of Obesity. For a general overview of misdiagnosis issues for all diseases, see Overview of Misdiagnosis.

 » Next page: Undiagnosed Obesity

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• Undiagnosed Obesity
• Misdiagnosis of Underlying Causes of Obesity
• Medical Malpractice and Obesity
• Associated Conditions of Obesity
• Inheritance and Genetics of Obesity

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