Index
- What are the main comorbidities related to obesity?
- How do we define obesity?
- The different origins of obesity
- Obesity-related co-morbidities
- Surgery to treat obesity, different techniques that exist
What are the main comorbidities related to obesity?
Worldwide, obesity is one of the health problems that affect the most people. It must be recognized that technological change, industrialization and changes in consumption and travel patterns have influenced men's health and behaviour. Overweight affects both children and adults. But the existence of these extra kilos can have an impact on the health of those who suffer from it. These health problems can affect the arteries, heart, respiratory system, bones and joints. In the following paragraphs, you will discover everything you need to know about the main comorbidities related to obesity.
How do we define obesity?
Obesity is often confused with being overweight. Both have in common the existence of excess weight and fat. Obesity is defined by medical professionals as an excessive accumulation of fat resulting from an imbalance between the calories absorbed by the body and the energy expended. Since 1997, the World Health Organization has considered obesity as a chronic disease.
As mentioned above, overweight still does not correlate with obesity. To differentiate between the two concepts, the calculation of Body Mass Index or BMI must be done. This index is obtained by dividing the weight expressed in kilos by the square of the height expressed in metres. The only problem with this method of evaluation is that it does not take into account the age of the individual and his or her sex. Muscle mass is also not taken into account. In any case, it makes it possible to evaluate the patient's obesity and to decide on obesity surgery if necessary. Obesity is effective for a BMI between 30 and 34.9. A BMI between 35 and 39.9 corresponds to severe obesity, and above 40, we speak of morbid obesity. As you can see, the higher the BMI, the more severe the obesity.
The different origins of obesity
The onset of obesity can be explained by several factors. Scientists refer to obesity as a multifactorial disease. As a result, the main elements that influence the development of this excessive overweight are as follows:
- Sedentary lifestyle - this lifestyle is characterized by a lack of physical activity. It promotes an imbalance between calorie intake and energy expenditure. The body tends to store more calories than it should.
- Metabolism - in some people, metabolism works by converting absorbed food into fat rather than heat and energy.
- Genetics - the onset of obesity may be related to a hereditary predisposition. Thus, if a person has one or more relatives with the disease, there is a good chance that they too will be affected.
- Environment - most of the time, the environment in which a person lives influences his or her behaviour, lifestyle and diet. This can contribute greatly to the development of overweight and obesity.
- Food - with the development of fast-food restaurants, consumption patterns have greatly changed. People are more likely to put more calories into their bodies than they need. Especially since the majority of this type of food is low in nutrients but very high in However, overly aggressive diets can also influence the onset of obesity.
- Psychology - finally, there are certain psychological disorders that are linked to eating disorders, and therefore to obesity.
Obesity-related co-morbidities
You probably know that obesity brings with it many health problems. The presence of one or more of these disorders is called co-morbidities. These obesity-related co-morbidities threaten the health of all people suffering from obesity, whether they are children, youth or adults. The major obesity-related diseases can affect all parts of the body and overall health. It should also be noted that the higher the patient's weight, the greater the risk of developing these co-morbidities.
The most common obesity-related co-morbidities are as follows:
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Myocardial infarction
- Herniated disc
- Respiratory discomfort or even chronic respiratory problems
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep apnea
- A higher risk of developing cancer
- A hormonal disorder
- Dyslipidemia
- Stroke
Beyond these physical disorders, the comorbidities associated with obesity also include psychological and psychic disorders. Indeed, the patient may suffer from low self-esteem and depression.
Surgery to treat obesity, different techniques that exist
Surgery is generally only recommended for patients who are morbidly obese and at risk of losing their lives. In terms of medical treatment of obesity, several techniques exist. But the choice of the most suitable technique is made on a case-by-case basis according to the advice of the doctors.
In any case, the choice will be made between the following techniques:
- The adjustable gastric bypass
- The gastric bypass
- The duodenal switch
- Longitudinal gastrectomy
As you will have understood, surgery should not be performed on all obese people. It is a last resort solution to save patients' lives.
