What is obesity and what are the health consequences?

*This text has been written based on the information received from health institutions and organizations, hospitals and health professionals. If you or someone you know has any of the symptoms described here, our recommendation is to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

This obesity It is characterized by the different distribution of excess fat accumulated in the body in each individual. It is more characteristic that the deposits begin to appear in the navel in men, and in the lower part of the body in women, in areas such as the hips and thighs.

It’s simple, obesity It occurs when there is no balance between the amount of calories consumed and the amount of calories expended during our activities during the day. When there is excess calories consumed and low calorie expenditure, our body stores this excess in the form of fat, which in turn fatand hence obesity over time.

The factors contributing to the development of this condition are very diverse and can be psychological, genetic predisposition, eating disorders, hormonal irregularity, use of drugs that cause weight gain, among other reasons.

How is obesity diagnosed?

The most widely used tool to aid in the diagnosis of obesity is the calculation of body mass index (BMI), which is an indirect measure of fat accumulation per square meter of the human body. Calculation is made by dividing the person’s weight (in meters) by the square (weight / height x height).

According to the BMI table for indexes above 25 kg/m2^two person has already been considered fatand are at risk of developing health problems. Rates over 30 kg/m2^two to characterize obesityand over 40 kg/m^two severe obesity.

But BMI is not a good tool for all situations. People who do sports and have more muscle mass may have an index of over 30 kg/m2.^twobut that doesn’t mean they are obese. Therefore, it is important to have supportive tools such as abdominal circumference measurement, which should be under 1 meter for men and 86 centimeters for women, and more direct measurements such as bioimpedance.

Understanding the factor that triggers excessive weight gain is part of diagnosing obesity so that an individualized treatment plan is executed for each person.

What are the consequences of obesity and its treatment?

Contrary to common sense, people with obesity may show malnutrition. This is due to the type of food consumed. Weight gain is associated with the consumption of foods that are high in calories but low in nutrients.

It is also associated with obesity, heart, kidney, circulatory problems, high blood pressure, the development of type 2 diabetes, and increased risk of certain types of cancer in women, such as bowel and uterine cancer, and bone and muscle problems. Like arthritis and rheumatism.

Therefore, it is extremely important for people to have. overweight and obesity Get regular medical follow-up to prevent and treat any health problem with a personalized treatment plan.

Therefore, treatments vary according to the needs of the patients. But in general, it is recommended to lose weight through nutrition monitoring and physical exercise practices. Loss of 5 to 10% of initial weight is estimated to result in a significant increase in patients’ quality of life as well as a reduced chance of developing comorbidities and premature death.

Other treatments used are the use of drugs that accelerate metabolism or change the rate of fat absorption in the body, and bariatric surgery.

In Brazil, the Unified Health System (SUS) offers surgery, but to be eligible, the person must have had at least two years of clinical treatment, not successful in weight loss, and have a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or more.^twohave a BMI greater than or equal to 40 kg/m2, provided there is evidence of serious comorbidities^twobeing obese for at least five years, even without comorbidities, and no contraindications to the procedure.

whatrms to prevent overweight and obesity?

The best form of prevention is a balance between diet and physical exercise. In cases where weight gain is related to hormonal problems, medical follow-up for hormonal control, and in eating disorders caused by emotional or psychological problems, treatment should include psychological follow-up for better results in the loss process. weight maintenance.

We must always remember that one should not be blamed for one’s own fault. health situationon the contrary, it should be welcomed and respected in its process.