Obesity is often associated with physical strain on the body, contributing to disease and other conditions. It can also have an adverse impact on social and emotional well-being, and it’s commonly linked to deep feelings of sadness, self-blame and depression. These symptoms should not be ignored. Doctors and psychiatrists should work together to address your total health.

If you struggle with weight, use a BMI calculator to estimate your potential link to disease risk. The Body Mass Index, or BMI, provides you with the healthy weight range for your height. While it doesn’t take into account age, gender or activity level, it is the method most commonly used to indicate the presence of body weight concerns. Talk to your doctor to find out if your weight is affecting your health and consider the help of a nutritionist or dietician.

• Take control of your weight. Call an NYC Health + Hospitals health care system hospital or health center in your area to ask about weight management programs and support groups.