Health Risks of Overweight & Obesity

Overweight and obesity may raise your risk for certain health problems and may be linked to certain emotional and social problems.

What are some health risks of overweight and obesity?

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. About 8 out of 10 people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or have obesity.⁸ Over time, high blood glucose leads to problems such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye problems, nerve damage, and other health problems.

If you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, losing 5 to 7 percent of your body weight and getting regular physical activity may prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a condition in which blood flows through your blood vessels with a force greater than normal. High blood pressure can strain your heart, damage blood vessels, and raise your risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and death.

Overweight and obesity may raise your risk for certain health problems such as high blood pressure.

Heart disease

Heart disease is a term used to describe several problems that may affect your heart. If you have heart disease, you may have a heart attack, heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina, or an abnormal heart rhythm. High blood pressure, abnormal levels of blood fats, and high blood glucose levels may raise your risk for heart disease. Blood fats, also called blood lipids, include HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.

Losing 5 to 10 percent of your weight may lower your risk factors for developing heart disease. If you weigh 200 pounds, this means losing as little as 10 pounds. Weight loss may improve blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood flow.

Stroke

Stroke is a condition in which the blood supply to your brain is suddenly cut off, caused by a blockage or the bursting of a blood vessel in your brain or neck. A stroke can damage brain tissue and make you unable to speak or move parts of your body. High blood pressure is the leading cause of strokes.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you do not breathe regularly while sleeping. You may stop breathing altogether for short periods of time. Untreated sleep apnea may raise your risk of other health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that put you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. These conditions are

• high blood pressure
• high blood glucose levels
• high triglyceride levels in your blood
• low levels of HDL cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol) in your blood
• too much fat around your waist

Fatty liver diseases

Fatty liver diseases are conditions in which fat builds up in your liver. Fatty liver diseases include nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Fatty liver diseases may lead to severe liver damage, cirrhosis, or even liver failure.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common, long-lasting health problem that causes pain, swelling, and reduced motion in your joints. Being overweight or having obesity may raise your risk of getting osteoarthritis by putting extra pressure on your joints and cartilage.

Gallbladder diseases

Overweight and obesity may raise your risk of getting gallbladder diseases, such as gallstones and cholecystitis. Imbalances in substances that make up bile cause gallstones. Gallstones may form if bile contains too much cholesterol.

Some cancers

Cancer is a collection of related diseases. In all types of cancer, some of the body’s cells begin to divide without stopping and spread into surrounding tissues. Overweight and obesity may raise your risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Kidney disease

Kidney disease means that your kidneys are damaged and can’t filter blood like they should. Obesity raises the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, the most common causes of kidney disease. Even if you don’t have diabetes or high blood pressure, obesity itself may promote kidney disease and quicken its progress.

Pregnancy problems

Overweight and obesity raise the risk of health problems that may occur during pregnancy. Pregnant women who are overweight or obese may have a greater chance of

• developing gestational diabetes
• having preeclampsia—high blood pressure during pregnancy, which can cause severe health problems for mother and baby if left untreated
• needing a cesarean section, or C-section and, as a result, taking longer to recover after giving birth

What emotional and social problems are linked to overweight and obesity?

Overweight and obesity are associated with mental health problems such as depression. People who deal with overweight and obesity may also be the subject of weight bias and stigma from others, including health care providers. This can lead to feelings of rejection, shame, or guilt—further worsening mental health problems.

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causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment – health articles

Obesity – excessive accumulation of fat in the subcutaneous layer and internal organs. The diagnosis is made when the patient’s body weight exceeds the norm by more than 20%. Obesity is a lifestyle disease, in the modern world it has the character of an epidemic, since one third of the world’s population suffers from it in one way or another.

Causes of obesity

90% of obesity is the result of lifestyle, diet and movement:

• Long intervals between meals and excessive portions
• Overeating in the evening
• Food before bed
• A large amount of carbohydrates and fats (especially confectionery and animal origin) with a lack of fiber and dietary fiber
• Excess intake of calories compared to their expenditure
• Lack of physical stimulation of muscle tissue to participate in fat processing

This also includes family predisposition and psychogenic overeating.

10% of cases of obesity are caused by disorders in the functioning of organs and systems:

• Endocrine diseases (disorders of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, thyroid gland, violation of the endocrine function of the pancreas, adrenal glands)
• Influence of hormonal drugs (COCs, steroids, insulin)
• Genetically determined deficiency of lipolysis enzymes (fat breakdown)
• Brain tumors

Classification of obesity

Degrees of obesity are determined by body mass index (Quetelet formula: weight divided by the square of height in meters):

• BMI over 25 – overweight
• More than 30 – I degree
• Over 35 – II degree
• Over 40 – III degree
• Increase in body weight more than 2 times compared to the norm – IV degree

Types of obesity by deposit location:

• Gynoid (female, lower) – buttocks and thighs gain weight first of all
• Android (male, upper) – fat is deposited on the abdomen (in the omentum), sides
• Mixed – the body gains weight evenly, including limbs, neck, back

Symptoms of obesity

• Enlargement of body parts, change in their ratio
• Aesthetic defects: double chin, pseudogynecomastia, “apron” on the abdomen
• Stretch marks
• Hernias

As obesity progresses, they join:

Over time, functional disorders turn into organic and systemic diseases.

Complications of obesity

• Respiratory and heart failure
• Ischemic heart disease
• Hypertension
• Fatty liver, which may eventually lead to cholelithiasis, cirrhosis
• Pancreas (as a consequence – pancreatitis, diabetes)
• Erosions of the esophagus, gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers
• Arthritis and arthrosis

Obesity has been associated with some cancers: colon, pancreas, prostate, ovarian and breast cancer.

Diagnosis of obesity

Overweight people consult an endocrinologist or nutritionist. Doctor:

• Will calculate BMI (by Quetelet) and ideal weight (by Brock, Devine or Robinson formula)
• Evaluate body fat based on the ratio of waist to hips: normally up to 0.8 for women, up to one for men
• Collect the patient’s life history: the presence of overweight in the closest relatives, features of the profession, lifestyle and nutrition
• Gather anamnesis of the disease: how long has obesity been observed, maximum and minimum weight after 20 years, which was undertaken independently
• If necessary, prescribe laboratory tests for the presence of hormonal or enzyme disorders
• Assess the severity of complications

Treatment of obesity

The treatment regimen depends on the cause of the disease:

• Dietary obesity is treated by a nutritionist: he makes a diet, together with an exercise therapy specialist selects the optimal level of physical activity, taking into account problem areas, prescribes drugs that affect metabolism, appetite, fat absorption and etc.
• Psychogenic obesity is treated by psychologists and psychotherapists who conduct special trainings and prescribe antidepressants
• Symptomatic obesity can only be corrected by diet or exercise, the only treatment is to control the underlying disease
• Bariatric surgery (gastric resection or bandage) is used for grade III-IV obesity

Prognosis and prevention of obesity

The prognosis depends on the presence of complications in the form of systemic and organic diseases. In general, the loss of every 10% of the mass reduces the risk of developing diabetes and obesity-related cancers by 30% and 40%, respectively. Weight loss allows you to reduce the load on the cardiovascular system, unload the joints, prevent the development of heart complications, hypertension, degenerative and inflammatory diseases of the joints.

To prevent obesity, it is enough to correlate the calorie content of food with energy consumption, observe the daily routine, and provide intense physical activity for at least 2 hours a week.

Benefits of treatment at MEDSI

• Individual diet therapy, fasting, selection of physical exercises
• Working with a psychologist, psychotherapist
• Bariatric surgery
• Accompanying the patient at every stage of treatment
• All treatment regimens are based on the principle of evidence and comply with international medical standards

To make an appointment, call the round-the-clock phone number 8 (495) 7-800-500.

Do not delay treatment, see a doctor now:

• Pediatric nutritionist appointment
• Dietitian appointment
• Bioimpedance analysis

⚕ What threatens obesity? ➡【Causes and treatment】

Obesity – what is it? Aesthetic defect, inconvenience, restriction in physical activity or is it still a disease? How does this affect health, what are the consequences? Is it possible to get rid of this deficiency, which doctor can help? We will look for answers.

Classification of obesity

Obesity is considered a serious disease in medicine. Moreover, since 19In 1997, WHO announced that the world is experiencing a global epidemic of obesity. In advanced economies, more than half of adults are underweight, and a third of the population is obese. The Ukrainians are not far behind. Overweight in the country live 58.4%, and obese – 24.1%.

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Physicians call obesity a syndrome characterized by excessive accumulation of fat and weight gain. There are various reasons for this, among which it is necessary to highlight the imbalance of caloric intake and the level of physical activity. Simply put, if more calories are taken in with food than are spent during the day, then this leads to the accumulation of body fat. But the causes of obesity may be different:

• diseases – underdevelopment of the sex glands, disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland and pituitary gland, damage to the nerve cells of the hypothalamus, Cushing’s disease;
• treatment with female hormones, corticosteroids, antidepressants, etc. ;
• genetic predisposition.

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Obesity scores

Body mass index (BMI) is used to measure obesity. This indicator is calculated by dividing body weight, expressed in kilograms, by the square of height, expressed in meters. Depending on the BMI, there are four stages of obesity:

1. Pre-obesity. There are no severe symptoms of obesity. BMI within 25-29.9. It is treated with nutrition correction and increased physical activity.
2. First degree. Outwardly quite pronounced, but more often perceived as an aesthetic defect, although shortness of breath, excessive sweating, edema, etc. may already be noted. BMI in the range of 30-34.9. Requires immediate weight adjustment.
3. Second degree. Characterized by significant fat deposits that are hard to miss. BMI within 35-39.9. The symptoms characteristic of the first degree are added to a decrease in working capacity, difficulty walking and active physical activity. Requires treatment, tk. obesity tends to progress.
4. Third degree. BMI above 40. Signs of obesity at this stage are easily identified by their appearance. At this stage, headaches, a violation in the functioning of the cardiovascular system are added. Shortness of breath is observed not only in movement, but also at rest, the legs swell strongly. Such a patient needs not only the help of a nutritionist, but also a consultation with an endocrinologist.

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Types of obesity

There are two types of obesity – hypertrophic and hyperplastic.

In the first case, the number of fat cells in a person remains unchanged. But they are constantly accumulating more and more fat. This type of obesity is usually characteristic of older people.

The second type is characterized by a constant increase in the number of fat cells. These cells secrete a substance that leads to an increase in appetite. Overeating causes the appearance of new cells. This type develops in patients who have the appropriate heredity and are prone to overeating. It develops in adolescents, pregnant women, women in menopause.

Types of obesity

There are two types of obesity, android (male) and gynoid (female), according to how fat accumulates in the body.

In the female type of obesity, fat deposits are more localized on the thighs, buttocks, and in the abdominal cavity. The figure becomes pear-shaped.

The male type of obesity is called apple. Due to the accumulation of fat in the chest, back and abdomen, the figure acquires an apple roundness. In this type, fat often accumulates not under the skin, but around the internal organs. Such obesity is called visceral.

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Causes of obesity

Obesity is primary and symptomatic.

The causes of primary obesity are overeating, irregular meals, the predominance of foods with excess fat and fast carbohydrates in the diet. If, in addition, the patient leads a sedentary lifestyle, does not devote enough time to physical activity, then the signs of obesity will not be long in coming. Primary obesity can also be caused by a genetic predisposition. Although in this case, malnutrition and low physical activity play an important role.

Primary obesity is also observed in elderly patients. Metabolism decreases, the function of the center of appetite in the brain is disrupted, due to diseases, physical activity and its intensity decrease. All this leads to weight gain.

Symptomatic obesity is characterized by the fact that in this case weight gain occurs due to some disease. Endocrine diseases leading to hormonal failure cause weight gain. These are hypothyroidism, Cushing’s disease and others. The treatment of some diseases requires the use of drugs that interfere with the hormonal system. Therefore, all appointments should be carried out only by a specialist.

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Consequences of obesity

Obesity is associated primarily with aesthetic unattractiveness and limitation in movement. But doctors warn of serious complications of obesity. These include:

• Cardiovascular diseases.
  Each additional kilogram of weight leads to the appearance of 1.5 km of blood vessels. This is a huge additional load on the heart. Even pre-obesity increases the likelihood of such formidable diseases as heart attack and stroke.
• Respiratory diseases.
  Obesity makes it difficult for the respiratory system to function. This leads to pain in the heart, to the appearance of sleep apnea syndrome, increased fatigue.
• Diabetes mellitus.
  In obese people, this disease is much more common. So for insulin-dependent diabetes, the risk in obese patients increases 40 times.
• Arterial hypertension.
  The heart suffers, so pressure problems cannot be avoided.
• Failure in the hormonal system.
  Insulin resistance occurs, which eventually leads to diabetes, growth retardation. In women, menstrual irregularities are noted, the amount of the hormone progesterone decreases, which makes the appearance masculine. In men, on the contrary, the appearance becomes effeminate due to a decrease in testosterone, and many are diagnosed with erectile dysfunction.
• Diseases of the gallbladder.
  Overweight people are much more likely to be diagnosed with cholecystitis, cholelithiasis.
• Liver diseases.
  Fatty liver leads to such a formidable disease as cirrhosis. In addition, it leads to an increase in the level of “bad” cholesterol in the body and the formation of cholesterol plaques.
• Oncological diseases.
  There is irrefutable evidence that obese women are more likely to suffer from breast cancer, and men from prostate cancer. Patients of both sexes are at risk of developing cancer of the rectum, kidneys and stomach.
• Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, including gout and arthritis.
  The spine and joints experience increased stress. A kilogram of body weight creates a load on the joints equal to four kilograms. This leads to the destruction and deformation of both the joints and the spine. There are pains that make movement difficult.

Mental problems are added to the consequences of obesity, self-esteem decreases. Patients need the help of a psychotherapist. The whole complex of complications leads to premature death of obese people.

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Diagnosis of obesity

Diagnosis of obesity begins with an external examination. Also, anthropometric parameters are used. In addition to BMI, the size of the circumference of the waist, hips, and their ratio are estimated. The thickness of the fat fold on the abdomen is measured, which allows you to determine the type of obesity and the amount of fat in the body. A general therapeutic examination is carried out, on the basis of which instrumental and laboratory tests are prescribed.

Laboratory diagnosis of obesity includes general and biochemical analysis. As a result of these tests, the tendency to diabetes, cholesterol levels and other indicators are determined. An analysis is made for hormones – the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, sex hormones. A complete urinalysis and specimens are done to check for kidney problems. The inclusion of a hormonal panel in research helps to establish the role of heredity in the development of the disease.

Of the instrumental studies, a few should be highlighted. Computed tomography makes it possible to accurately determine the thickness of fat under the skin, as well as diagnose visceral obesity and pathologies of internal organs. The second most important method is ultrasound of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, pancreas and liver. This study shows structural changes in organs. To clarify the diagnosis, the following are prescribed: MRI, bioimpedance analysis (BIA), underwater (hydrostatic) weighing, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DRA).

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Treatment of obesity

Treatment of obesity is chosen depending on the type, stage, presence of concomitant diseases. In the initial stages, a diet that includes high-fiber foods and limited foods high in easily digestible fast carbohydrates helps well. The diet should be prescribed by a dietitian, taking into account individual characteristics. The diet is supplemented with physical activity.

Medical treatment obesity is used in combination with a diet. This is a long term treatment. The doctor selects drugs individually, indicating the need to adhere to a healthy lifestyle.

Surgical treatment of obesity is currently considered the most effective. But bariatric surgery is used in the last stages of the disease. This operation is performed in two ways. American and Canadian surgeons in 90% of cases perform gastric bypass, which helps to get rid of 70 to 80% of extra pounds. In Europe, more often resort to adjustable gastric banding, which will save 50-60% of excess weight.

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Prevention of obesity

The consequences of obesity are very serious. And you need to take action to avoid them. Obesity prevention comes down to following a healthy lifestyle. The diet should be complete, but calories should be limited. This can be achieved by reducing the amount of fat and sugar, focusing on the consumption of vegetables, fruits, berries, legumes, whole grains. Follow the diet, avoid snacking. Your rule should be physical activity. At least 2.5 hours per week for adults. And children are recommended daily exercise for an hour.

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The article is for informational purposes only. Please remember: self-medication can harm your health.

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Sources

• World Health Organization
• Mayo Clinic
• Medscape

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The author of the article:

Marunchin Natalia Andreevna

Endocrinologist of the second category

Expert in the direction:

Kvachenyuk Andrey Nikolaevich

Surgeon-endocrinologist of the highest category, MD.

Who can help?

It will be easier to fight extra pounds with the help of specialists.