Index
- Symptoms of obesity, what are they?
- Obesity, what are we talking about?
- What causes obesity?
- Who are the people at risk and what are the risk factors?
- The main symptoms of obesity
- Possible complications of obesity
Symptoms of obesity, what are they?
Obesity is currently one of the most common diseases affecting the world. In fact, it can affect both children and adults. Specifically, obesity is defined by the WHO as the abnormal accumulation of body fat. This disease, in addition to the discomfort it can cause in everyday life, can also have serious consequences on the health of the person concerned. Hence the importance of effective prevention and management. In what follows, you will discover the main symptoms of obesity. Knowing them will help you to better prevent possible complications.
Obesity, what are we talking about?
Obesity, which can be summed up as an excessive accumulation of body fat, can be detrimental to health. It is the formation of excess adipose tissue. This excess fat inevitably leads to a high weight. This accumulation of body fat results from the fact that the obese person consumes too many calories in relation to their energy expenditure. This process can take several years and is accompanied by the accumulation of fat mass.
Furthermore, a distinction must be made between obesity and being overweight. The latter is also characterized by being overweight, but is relatively less important. Furthermore, to determine the extent of obesity, it is necessary to calculate the body mass index or BMI. This is obtained by relating height in m squared to weight in kg. The result is then interpreted according to the WHO definition:
- 18.5 BMI - 24.9: Ideal body size
- 25 BMI - 29.9: overweight or overweight
- 30 BMI -34.5: Moderate obesity
- 35 BMI - 39.9: Severe Obesity
- BMI 40: Morbid obesity
What causes obesity?
The multiplicity of its causes makes obesity very widespread. Moreover, they do not depend solely on the individual. Indeed, the environment in which the patient lives and evolves is also partly responsible for his or her state of health. Among the most frequent causes of obesity are:
- Sedentary life
- A stressful lifestyle
- Eating foods that are too high in fat and sugar
- Family predisposition;
- Certain diseases such as metabolic disorders, hypothyroidism,...
- Psychological disorders
- Smoking cessation
- Taking certain medications
- Growth hormone deficiency
- Trauma
- A tumor
Who are the people at risk and what are the risk factors?
Although everyone can become obese, some people are more likely than others to accumulate fat and be well over the ideal weight. Among those at risk are :
- People suffering from eating disorders, such as bulimia for example
- Women during certain phases of their menstrual cycles
- Women who have had multiple pregnancies
- People who are getting older
- Alcoholics
The main symptoms of obesity
Even though obesity is easily recognized by being overweight and heavy, the person who suffers from it may not be aware of his or her condition. If, in addition to being overweight, you experience the following symptoms, there is a good chance that you are obese:
- An excess of fat that is distributed in various areas of the body such as the thighs, buttocks, neck, face, stomach or hips
- Excessive sweating
- Sleep apnea
- Respiratory weakness. At the slightest effort (such as climbing stairs for example), you already feel out of breath
- Pain in the joints. Most often, they are located in the back and knees for obese people
- Blood circulation problems in the legs
- A tendency to depression and low self-esteem. In some cases, the sick person no longer dares to weigh himself or herself and no longer looks at himself or herself in the mirror.
Possible complications of obesity
Overweight caused by obesity leads to countless diseases that can be very serious. Specialists also estimate that the first complications occur after 10 years of obesity. Therefore, the higher the BMI, the greater the risk of serious illnesses. Obesity can have harmful consequences on a patient's health. These complications are rheumatological, respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive. Possible complications of obesity are listed below:
- Metabolic disorders. The patient may suffer from diabetes or gout
- Chronic joint problems and back pain
- Cardiovascular disorders such as high blood pressure, heart failure or an increase in the level of bad cholesterol in the body
- Breathing problems that may manifest as sleep apnea
- A higher risk of stroke
- Venous thrombosis
- Depression and psychological conditions leading the obese person to isolate themselves and have very low self-esteem
- A drop in life expectancy
As you can see, obesity can affect the quality of life and general health of the person who suffers from it. However, there are certain habits and treatments that can reduce or even prevent the occurrence of these complications.
