Obesity Profile

Your doctor may order this test to check if your weight is unhealthy and if you are already obese, this test would be done to check the cause behind the weight gain.

Along with being overweight, some additional symptoms may disrupt your life. You may be asked to get this test done if you show the following symptoms:

• Increased sweating
• Breathlessness
• Inability to cope with sudden physical activity
• Snoring
• Back pain and joint pain
• Feeling very tired every day
• Feeling isolated
• Low confidence and self-esteem

(Read More - Obesity Profile Test)

Fasting: For the lipid profile, you need to maintain a fasting condition for 12 hours before the test. Fasting for four hours is required before the uric acid test and for some time before the sodium test. You may be required to start fasting at midnight before the phosphorus test. 

For the fasting blood sugar test, you need to fast for 12 hours before the test. Do not take any hypoglycaemic drug such as insulin or oral medication before the test unless your doctor instructs otherwise. After the fasting test is done, you will be asked to have a meal with at least 75 g of carbohydrates. For the next two hours between the meal and the PP test, take rest and do not consume anything else. If you are pregnant, you may not need fasting.

Your doctor will tell you how to manage all these variable hours of fasting.

Some other factors that need to be kept in mind while going for an obesity profile test are:

• Heart attack, infections, surgery, injury and pregnancy can affect the results of a lipid profile; therefore, for accurate results, it is advisable to wait for at least two months after these events to perform the test. Inform your doctor if you have had alcohol in the last two days or your diet has changed drastically in the last week. 
• Some of the following conditions can affect the test results of the creatinine test:
  • Eating a lot of meat
  • Pregnancy
  • Consuming a large amount of vitamin C
  • Consuming medicines such as cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine and trimethoprim
• Dehydration will raise the level of proteins in the blood. Do not keep the tight band around your arm for too long when the blood is drawn as the albumin levels will be raised. 
• If you have lost fluids due to diarrhoea or vomiting, your chloride levels may be low. Drinks which contain caffeine may lead to loss of water that may affect the test results.
• Menstrual blood is considered to be a contaminant in the urine sample for the urine R/M. Certain substances such as food colour, beets and vitamin C supplements can affect the colour of urine.  
• Consuming large amounts of milk, other dairy products and vitamin D supplements can also raise the levels of calcium in the body.
• Some food items that can affect the results of the phosphorus test are chocolate, some types of beans, cheese, beer, cola and fish. Dialysis can also affect the results of phosphorus test. 

Make your doctor aware of all the drugs that you consume as they may affect the test results. Here is a list of some of the drugs that can affect the results of various tests in an obesity profile:

• T3 and T4 tests: For the T3 test, drugs such as steroids, seizure medicines and birth control pills can influence the results. Similarly, for the T4 test, keep your doctor updated on drugs such as birth control pills, cardiac drugs, seizure drugs and aspirin can affect the results. 
• Potassium test: Drugs such as epinephrine, heparin, histamine, isoniazid, mannitol, succinylcholine, aminocaproic acid, angiotensin receptor blockers, antineoplastic drugs, ACE inhibitors and potassium-sparing diuretics increase potassium. On the other hand, acetazolamide, aminosalicylic acid, amphotericin B, carbenicillin, cisplatin, gentamicin, insulin, laxatives, nafcillin, penicillin G, phenothiazines, salicylates and sodium polystyrene sulphonate decrease the levels of potassium. If you have a lot of liquorice, your potassium levels may be low. 
• Calcium test: Your doctor may request you to stop taking certain medicines such as lithium, thyroxine, calcium salts that may be present in supplements and antacids, thiazide diuretics and vitamin D as they can affect the calcium test results.
• Phosphorus test: Certain medicines such as L-dopa, anthraquinone laxatives, methocarbamol, nitrofurantoin, phenazopyridine, riboflavin, rifampicin and sulphasalazine can affect the results of the phosphorus test, and hence their consumption should be informed to the doctor.
• Uric acid test: The drugs that can raise the uric acid levels are as follows: 
  • Aspirin
  • Ascorbic acid
  • Caffeine
  • Diazoxide
  • Cisplatin
  • Diuretics
  • Ethambutol
  • Epinephrine
  • Levodopa
  • Nicotinic acid
  • Methyldopa
  • Theophylline
  • Phenothiazines

Alcohol may also raise the levels of uric acid. 

• Drugs that lower the uric acid levels are as follows: 
  • Allopurinol
  • Clofibrate
  • Azathioprine
  • Corticosteroids
  • Febuxostat
  • Oestrogen
  • Glucose
  • Probenecid
  • Guaifenesin
  • Mannitol
  • Warfarin

(Read More - Homeopathic treatment for Obesity)

All the tests in the obesity profile, other than urine R/M require a blood sample. The technician will draw the required amount of blood from a vein in your arm. 

For the urine R/M test, either be a random or a 24-hour urine sample will be taken. A random urine sample is collected through the following procedure: 

• Rinse your hands with soap and water. 
• Clean your genital area properly and urinate a little in the toilet first.
• Place the container and collect the urine until the container is nearly half-filled. 
• Finish urinating in the toilet bowl, close the cap and return the container to the laboratory for testing.

The 24-hour urine sample collection procedure is as follows:

• You can start the urine collection anytime, but it is more common to start in the morning.
• Do not save the first urine in the morning but note the time as that is the start time of the collection process.
• Collect all the urine in the next 24 hours in a special container and keep it in a refrigerator. 
• The next morning, collect the first urine of the day.
• Once all the sample for 24 hours is collected, take it to the laboratory for testing.

(Read More - Diet chart for weight loss)

Normal results:

The normal results for the tests under the obesity panel are as follows:

• Blood sugar (fasting): below 100 mg/dL
• Blood sugar (PP):
  • For those with diabetes: below 180 mg/dL
  • For those who do not have diabetes: below 140 mg/dL
• Thyroid profile: 
  • T3 for 1-5 years: 105-270 ng/dL
  • T3 for 6-10 years: 95-240 ng/dL
  • T3 for 11-15 years: 80-215 ng/dL
  • T3 for 16-20 years: 80-210 ng/dL
  • T3 for 20-50 years: 70-205 ng/dL
  • T3 for more than 50 years: 40-180 ng/dL
  • T4 for 1-5 years: 7-15 mcg/dL
  • T4 for 5-10 years: 6-13 mcg/dL
  • T4 for 10-15 years: 5-12 mcg/dL
  • T4 for adult male: 4-12 mcg/dL
  • T4 for adult female: 5-12 mcg/dL
  • T4 for above 60 years: 5-11 mcg/dL
  • T4 in pregnancy: 9-14 mcg/dL
  • TSH in adults: 2-10 mcU/mL
• Lipid profile: 
  • Total cholesterol for aged 20 years or younger: 75-169 mg/dL
  • Total cholesterol for aged above 21 years: 100-199 mg/dL
  • HDL: above 40 mg/dL
  • LDL for those who have heart or blood vessel disease or are at very high risk of heart disease: below 70 mg/dL
  • LDL for high-risk patients: below 100 mg/dL
  • LDL for those at low risk of coronary artery disease: below 130 mg/dL
  • Triglycerides: below 150 mg/dL
  • VLDL: up to 30 mg/dL
  • Cholesterol/HDL: below 3.5:1
• Creatinine: 
  • Men: 0.9-1.3 mg/dL
  • Women: 0.6-1.1 mg/dL
  • Children between 3 and 18 years: 0.5-1.0 mg/dL
  • Children below 3 years: 0.3-0.7 mg/dL
• Total protein: 6-8.3 g/dL
• Sodium: 136-145 mmol/L
• Potassium:
  • Adults: 3.5-5.2 mEq/L 
  • Children (1-18 years): 3.4-4.7 mEq/L
• Chloride: 
  • Adults: 98-106 mEq/L
  • Children: 90-110 mEq/L
  • Newborns: 96-106 mEq/L
  • Premature babies: 95-110 mEq/L
• Calcium: 8.5-10.2 mg/dL
• Phosphorus:
  • Adults: 2.8-4.5 mg/dL
  • Children: 4.0-7.0 mg/dL
• Urine R/M test: The normal colour of the urine is almost colourless to dark yellow. However, eating some foods such as beets and blackberries may convert it to red colour. Generally, in normal conditions, the following are absent in the urine:
  • Glucose
  • Protein
  • Bilirubin
  • Ketones
  • Nitrites
  • Haemoglobin
  • White and red blood cells
• Uric acid: 3.5-7.2 mg/dL

Abnormal results:

If the glucose test (fasting and PP) results are high, it indicates diabetes.

If the T3 results are above normal, it could indicate the following:

• Hepatitis
• Graves’ disease
• Plummer’s disease (toxic multinodular goitre)
• Factitious hyperthyroidism (abnormally high thyroid hormone levels usually due to over ingestion of thyroid medicines)
• Acute thyroiditis
• Toxic thyroid adenoma
• Struma ovarii (a type of ovarian tumour)
• Congenital hyperproteinaemia 

If the T3 results are below normal, it could indicate the following:

• Hypothyroidism
• Congenital hypothyroidism
• Myxoedema
• Thyroid surgical ablation
• Liver disease
• Hypothalamic failure
• Pituitary insufficiency
• Iodine insufficiency
• Renal failure
• Cirrhosis
• Cushing’s syndrome

If your T4 results are higher than normal, it could be due to the following:

• Hepatitis
• Graves’ disease
• Factitious hyperthyroidism
• Toxic multinodular goitre
• Congenital hyperproteinaemia
• Acute thyroiditis
• Toxic thyroid adenoma
• Struma ovarii
• Thyroid cancer

If your T4 levels are lower than normal, it could be due to the following:

• Congenital hypothyroidism
• Myxoedema
• TSH receptor defects
• Cushing’s syndrome
• Hypothalamic failure
• Pituitary insufficiency
• Iodine insufficiency
• Thyroid agenesis (birth defect in which one lobe of thyroid fails to grow)
• Cirrhosis
• Renal failure
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

If the TSH levels are increased, it indicates the following:

• Large doses of iodine
• Thyroiditis
• Primary hypothyroidism
• Congenital hypothyroidism
• Thyroid agenesis
• Pituitary TSH-secreting tumour

If the TSH values are decreased, it can be due to the following:

• Hyperthyroidism
• Secondary hypothyroidism
• Pituitary hypofunction

If your lipid profile results are abnormal, it could indicate a risk of heart-related diseases.

If your creatinine levels are above normal, it is an indication of the following conditions:

• Kidney disease
• Muscle disease
• Blockage in your urinary system
• Diabetes
• Overactive thyroid gland
• Dehydration 
• Congestive heart failure
• Shock

If your creatinine levels are below normal, it could be due to the following conditions:

• Muscle loss
• Not enough protein in your diet
• Severe liver disease

If your total protein levels are high, it indicates the following:

• Chronic inflammation or infection, including HIV and hepatitis B or hepatitis C
• Waldenstrom’s disease 
• Multiple myeloma

If your total protein levels are low, it could be a sign of the following: 

• Bleeding
• Extensive burns
• Malnutrition
• Malabsorption 
• Glomerulonephritis
• Agammaglobulinaemia
• Protein-losing enteropathy
• Liver disease
• Nephrotic syndrome

If your sodium levels are higher than normal, it could be due to the following:

• A disorder of the kidney
• Diarrhoea
• A disorder of the adrenal glands
• Diabetes insipidus

If your sodium levels are lower than normal, it could be due to the following:

• Diarrhoea
• Malnutrition
• Vomiting
• Addison’s disease
• Kidney disease
• Cirrhosis
• Heart failure

Low levels of potassium could be due to the following: 

• Diarrhoea, sweating or vomiting
• Severe burn or draining wound
• Nutritional deficiency as in the case of alcoholism
• Cystic fibrosis
• Primary aldosteronism
• Alcoholism

If you have an excessive amount of potassium in your body, it could be due to the following:

• Kidney disease or kidney failure
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Sickle cell disease
• Addison’s disease
• Trauma, such as burns, accidents or surgery

If the chloride levels are high, it could be due to the following:

• Diarrhoea
• Renal tubular acidosis
• Addison’s disease
• Metabolic acidosis
• Respiratory alkalosis

If the chloride levels are low, it could be due to the following: 

• Dehydration
• Excessive sweating
• Vomiting
• Burns
• Bartter syndrome
• Syndrome of inappropriate diuretic hormone (SIADH) secretion
• Hyperaldosteronism
• Metabolic alkalosis
• Respiratory acidosis 
• Congestive heart failure

Some of the reasons that you may have high calcium levels are as follows:

• Being on bed rest for a long time
• Cancers such as multiple myeloma and T-cell lymphoma
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Sarcoidosis
• Hyperthyroidism
• Infections such as tuberculosis and certain mycobacterial infections and fungal infections
• Metastatic bone tumour
• Paget’s disease
• Tumours producing a parathyroid hormone-like substance

If the calcium levels are low, it could be an indication of the following:

• Disorders that affect the absorption of nutrients from the intestines
• Magnesium deficiency
• Vitamin D deficiency
• A low blood level of albumin
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Pancreatitis
• Liver disease
• Kidney failure

Some causes of high phosphorus levels are as follows:

• Too much vitamin D
• Too much phosphate in your diet
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Diabetic ketoacidosis
• Kidney failure
• Liver disease

If you have low phosphorus levels, it could be due to the following:

• Poor nutrition
• Hypercalcaemia
• Alcoholism
• Primary hyperparathyroidism 
• Too little dietary intake of phosphate
• Vitamin D deficiency, causing rickets or osteomalacia

If your urine R/M test shows abnormal results, it could be a sign of the following conditions:

• Urinary tract infection
• Poorly controlled diabetes
• Kidney stones
• Bladder or kidney cancer

The above-normal results for the uric acid test indicate the following:

• Acidosis
• Diabetes
• Alcoholism
• Gout
• Lead poisoning
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Leukaemia
• Polycythaemia vera
• Nephrolithiasis
• Renal failure
• Purine-rich diet
• Toxaemia of pregnancy
• Excessive exercise

If the levels of uric acid are below normal, it could be due to the following:

• Wilson’s disease
• Fanconi’s syndrome
• Low-purine diet
• SIADH secretion

(Read More - Health risks of being overweight)

Disclaimer: All results must be clinically correlated with the patient’s complaints to make a complete and accurate diagnosis. The above information is provided from a purely educational point of view and is in no way a substitute for medical advice by a qualified doctor.