More than a month after "American Idol" alum Mandisa's death, autopsy results show she died from complications of obesity.
Dr. Feng Li, Davidson County Medical Examiner, told The Tennessean Wednesday that an autopsy showed the Grammy-winning singer died from complications of class III obesity. Her manner of death was listed as natural, Li said.
Mandisa was found dead in her Franklin home on April 18. She was 47 years old.
The singer was candid about her struggle with mental health, dealing with the loss of a beloved friend and how food was something that was used as "comfort" especially during trying times. She also blogged about her journey to lose weight and the mental health issues she faced before and during that journey. All the while she was still performing and recording music.
Her story and journey touched many who were struggling as well.
Who was Mandisa?
Born in Citrus Heights, California, Mandisa Lynn Hundley was a member of the famed Fisk University Jubilee singers in Nashville, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in music in 2000.
The Christian singer dazzled audienceswhen she hit the stage of "American Idol" in 2005and made it through to the final nine. From there she released her debut album, but dealt with pain from the loss of a beloved friend and having a personal crisis of faith. She also spoke of her struggles with food during that period of time.
"I was disappointed with God. I was mad because as I prayed for her, I believed that God was going to heal her. I’m not the kind of person who shakes my fist at the Lord and yells and screams. I just shut down and started turning to food again for comfort. For years, I was turning to Him for comfort, but I didn’t trust Him anymore, so I isolated and went back to my old friend, food," read a quote on Mandisa's website regarding her response to a friend's death.
What is class III obesity?
Class III obesity is defined as a person that has abody mass index (BMI)of 40 or higher or a BMI of 35 or higher and is experiencing obesity-related health conditions, according to the Cleveland Clinic. It was once known as morbid obesity.
Obesity is something that many in the South and the U.S. struggle with. The prevalence of class III obesity has increased dramatically in the world and currently affects 6% of adults in the U.S., according to a study from the National Institute of Health.
What is BMI? What is considered a 'healthy' BMI?
Your body mass index, or BMI, is one way usually seen as a way to measure body fat, but it isn't always an accurate or the only tool that can be used to measure a body fat or health, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
BMI is calculated by using weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters.
The following BMI ranges classify different weight types:
- Underweight: Less than 18.5.
- Optimum range: 18.5 to 24.9.
- Overweight: 25 to 29.9.
- Class I obesity: 30 to 34.9.
- Class II obesity: 35 to 39.9.
- Class III obesity: More than 40.
What is obesity?
According to the World Health Organization, as of 2022, 2.5 billion adults 18 and older were overweight, including more than 890 million adults who were considered obese.
The most common cause of obesity in people is an imbalance in the number of calories consumed and the energy expended through physical activity. But there are other factors that can lead to obesity as well, including certain medications, psychological factors, certain diseases and hormone imbalances, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
What are complications from class III obesity?
The complications linked to obesity are more than carrying some extra weight. Here's a list of possible complications that are linked to obesity, according to Medline Plus, a site ran by the National Institutes of Health.
- High blood glucose (sugar) ordiabetes.
- High blood pressure(hypertension).
- High blood cholesteroland triglycerides (dyslipidemia, or high blood fats).
- Heart attacksdue tocoronary heart disease,heart failure
- Stroke
- Bone and joint problems. More weight puts pressure on the bones and joints. This can lead toosteoarthritis, a disease that causes joint pain and stiffness.
- Sleep apnea or breathing pauses during sleep. This can cause daytime fatigue or sleepiness, poor attention, and problems at work.
- Gallstonesand liver problems.
- Some cancers.
Lifestyle changes and treatment for class III obesity
There are many ways to help improve your health if you are obese including healthy lifestyle changes, behavioral and psychological therapy, medication and surgical procedures, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Here are some things Cleveland Clinic suggests people who are obese or could become obese do to help mitigate the risk linked to it.
Lifestyle changes include:
- Eating aheart-healthy diet
- Being physically active andexercising
- Aiming for a healthy personal weight based on your sex, height and health conditions
- Managing stress
- Getting healthy amounts ofsleep
