Causes, symptoms, and treatment methods for obesity

What is obesity?

Obesity is a chronic health problem that occurs as a result of excessive fat accumulation in the body. According to the World Health Organization, a body mass index (BMI) of over 30 is defined as obesity. This condition can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and certain types of cancer. Obesity can develop due to various reasons such as genetic factors, environmental influences, lifestyle, and dietary habits. Furthermore, habits brought on by modern life, such as inactivity and the consumption of fast food, also increase the risk of obesity. Therefore, a balanced diet, regular physical activity, and healthy lifestyle changes are of great importance in the fight against obesity. A person suffering from obesity is called obese. E66 is the code that defines obesity in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) coding.

What are the symptoms of obesity?

The first and most obvious symptom of obesity is an increase in the rate of fat in the body. The symptoms observed with the development of obesity are listed as follows:

Fat accumulation around the waist

Sleep apnea, snoring, and difficulty sleeping

Constant and excessive sweating

Shortness of breath

Difficulty with physical activity

Feeling constantly lethargic and tired

Skin problems such as rashes, acne, and infections

Joint and back pain

Leg pain due to excess weight

Psychological problems such as depression and social isolation

Intolerance to heat

What are the causes of obesity?

Obesity can occur in individuals for different reasons. In general terms, the causes of obesity are as follows.

Poor Dietary Habits: Excessive consumption of high-calorie, fatty, and sugary foods.

Lack of Physical Activity: Sedentary lifestyle and insufficient exercise.

Genetic Factors: Having a family history of obesity.

Hormonal Imbalances: Hormonal problems such as thyroid gland diseases.

Psychological Factors: Stress, depression, and emotional eating habits.

Environmental Factors: The influence of working conditions, sleep patterns, and social environment.

What diseases are caused by obesity?

Type 2 diabetes

High blood pressure

High blood lipids and cholesterol

Fatty liver

Cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis

Joint disorders

Sleep apnea

Ovarian cysts in women and associated menstrual irregularities

Excessive hair growth

Buried penis and hormonal disorders in male children

Depression

How is obesity treated?

Obesity can be treated without surgical intervention through exercise, a regular diet program, changes in habits, and medication. In addition, gastric sleeve surgery is among the treatment methods that can be used for obesity problems that cannot be resolved. Obesity treatment methods include:

Healthy and medical nutrition

If the body takes in more energy than it needs to expend, it is stored. Unless there is an underlying genetic/metabolic disease, it is necessary to avoid either excessive food intake, low energy consumption, or both. In this case, the first treatment option is medical nutrition. At this point, the sources and frequency of calorie intake should be determined specifically for the individual by dietitians.

Exercising

Rather than strictly adhering to written lists while following diet programs, it would be a healthier approach to receive education where the person can provide flexibility according to their own needs, make changes between foods, sustain it in the long term, and most importantly, make it a lifestyle. In addition to nutrition, regular exercise also plays an important role in the treatment of obesity.

Undergoing hormone therapy

Healthy secretion of hormones is of great importance in obesity. Tasks such as transmitting hunger, eating, and satiety signals to the brain, the use of sugar, protein, and fat in the food consumed, and the metabolic response to exercise or stress are entirely under the control of hormones. Imbalance in hormones can lead to obesity. In this case, weight control can be achieved by correcting the underlying endocrine problem with medication or surgery. Besides these, there is the GLP-1 hormone in the final part of the small intestine that triggers the feeling of satiety. GLP-1 regulates insulin secretion in the body and transmits signals to the hunger-satiety center in the brain. With medical treatments related to the GLP-1 hormone, a state of feeling full quickly and getting hungry later can be achieved.

Benefiting from bariatric surgery

Another option in obesity treatment is bariatric surgery. While the success rate achieved with diet and exercise is lower, this rate is quite high in surgical interventions. Obesity surgery not only improves a person's physical appearance but also provides positive effects on their quality of life. Therefore, it is of great importance to achieve permanent weight loss through surgical intervention against problems such as cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders, and sleep apnea. Methods in bariatric surgery are determined specifically for each patient. After the surgery, patients can have a comfortable recovery process, return to their work and social lives in a short time, and reach their ideal weight with proper planning.

Source: Acıbadem Hospital