Not Harmless: Diseases That Obesity Contributes To

According to data recorded in 2017, 60.6% of the adult population in Belarus is overweight, and 25.4% is obese.

Similar figures for the adult population of Russia. In other countries, these data may differ, but the whole world is characterized by an increase in the number of diseases - twofold over the past 10 years.

Moreover, the programs launched by the World Health Organization to promote an active lifestyle and healthy balanced diet have not led to an improvement in the situation.

It is important to understand that obesity and its consequences are not only a matter of aesthetics, says Maxim Burikov .

First of all, this is a disease with very serious consequences, which requires serious treatment under the supervision of doctors of various specialties.

Why is it dangerous?

Obesity, being a disease, provokes the emergence and development of new pathological conditions, and also aggravates those that a person had before the critical weight change. This happens for various reasons.

1. Impaired organ function. The body needs adipose tissue for "energy reserves", it provides thermal insulation for the body, and it is also involved in the production of many hormone-like substances.

They affect metabolism, insulin sensitivity, reproductive and immune systems of humans. However, excess fat tissue leads to disturbances in the production of these substances, which leads to functional disorders of many systems.

2. Inflammatory process. Excess adipose tissue produces substances that provoke subclinical systemic inflammation (mediators and cytokines). Against this background, subsequent pathological conditions and diseases develop.

3. Mechanical load. Excess fatty tissue exerts additional mechanical load on the body. This means increased pressure on joints, muscles and bones, which can lead to the development of osteoarthritis, the occurrence of spinal pain and the formation of hernias. Under the pressure of fatty tissue, internal organs can shift, which will seriously affect the quality of their work.

4. Psychological stress. Modern aesthetic ideals assume the absence of excess weight. One way or another, there is social pressure on people suffering from obesity.

Under the influence of stress, the risk of developing mental illnesses increases: depression and anxiety disorders, which, in turn, negatively affect eating behavior.

Common and dangerous

Obesity is a recurring disease that is not only dangerous in itself, but also acts as an aggravating factor. In the red risk zone are diseases that, together with obesity, multiply each other, increase the negative impact on the body and increase the risks to life, significantly reducing its quality.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D). The hormone insulin should help transport glucose from the blood to the body's cells; in obesity, the body does not produce enough insulin or uses it incorrectly.

The risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases 2-fold in the presence of obesity of the first degree, 5-fold in the presence of obesity of the second degree, and more than 10-fold in the presence of obesity of the third and fourth degree. About 80% of patients with type 2 diabetes have obesity of varying degrees.

Arterial hypertension. Excess body fat increases blood volume and overall resistance to blood flow, which can lead to increased pressure in the arteries.

Temporary or persistent increase in blood pressure can cause arterial hypertension, which is a leading risk factor for myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary heart disease and chronic heart failure.

Heart and vascular disease. Excess body fat can cause hardening and narrowing of the arteries, as well as increase the level of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.

This can lead to plaque and blockages in the arteries, reduced blood supply to the heart, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Sleep apnea. The anatomy of the upper airway can be significantly altered by excess fat tissue. During sleep, this can cause airway obstruction—sleep apnea results in periods of cessation of breathing or decreased ventilation during sleep. As a result, this not only reduces the quality of sleep, but also increases the risk of strokes.

Osteoarthritis. Additional mechanical pressure on connective tissues and joints, especially the knees, hips and spine, are characteristic of excess weight and obesity. Joints and cartilage can become damaged, and over time, a person becomes seriously limited in movement and experiences pain.

Oncology. It is difficult to identify a single cause for this group of diseases; rather, it is a complex of factors.

For certain types of cancer, including breast, colon, esophageal, stomach, and pancreatic cancer, obesity significantly increases the risk of developing it. Losing weight in these cases, including through bariatric surgery, significantly reduces these risks.

How to Lose Weight with Chronic Diseases

The process of losing weight for a person who has no chronic diseases and is overweight, and for someone who has already "earned" pathologies, may differ. In the presence of certain diseases, such as diabetes, thyroid problems or osteoarthritis, it may be necessary to:

• a more thorough examination at the start to determine not just BMI and the degree of obesity, but also the current condition and the degree of development of a chronic disease;
• individual diet planning;
• a personal approach to the development and selection of the intensity of physical activity (for some diseases there are significant limitations);
• careful monitoring of medications and their impact on the course of treatment: medications for chronic diseases can affect metabolism and the weight loss process, for example, by causing an increase in appetite or slowing down the metabolism;
• attention to the emotional and psychological state: it plays a big role in the process of losing weight for any person, and for those who have a diagnosis, it is significant.

If a person has a “bouquet of diseases”, the weight loss process should be monitored by a multidisciplinary team of doctors, who will take into account a wide variety of factors and degrees of disease development.

But even in the absence of chronic diseases, it is recommended to consult not only with a nutritionist, but also with other doctors (endocrinologist, therapist, surgeon).

The fact is that there is confirmed quantitative data on the very low probability of weight loss and stabilization in obesity without the participation of doctors, including bariatric surgeons: for men, the chances of achieving normal body weight are only 1 in 210, and for women it is not much better - 1 in 124.

Previously, we talked about what foods you need to eat for liver health.