Obesity - causes, forms, stages, treatment

Obesity is a disease characterized by fat deposition.

Causes of obesity

The danger of this disease lies in the fact that fat accumulates not only on the sides and abdomen, as many people think.

In fact it is delayed

• in subcutaneous tissue,
• gland,
• around the kidneys
• in the mediastinum,
• in the peritoneum,
• between muscle fibers of skeletal muscles and the heart.

Scientists have found that the main regulator of fat metabolism is the brain, which regulates the activity of the endocrine glands. Decreased function of the thyroid and gonads leads to obesity.

Increased activity of the islet apparatus of the pancreas leads to increased synthesis of sugar into glycogen, its transition to fat and inhibits the mobilization of the latter from the depot.

Cortisone, a product of the adrenal glands, also increases fat secretion.

In addition, the food center is located in the brain. Its increased activity increases appetite and is a significant factor in the development of obesity.

The development of the disease is facilitated by excessive intake of fats, carbohydrates, and alcohol.

An important factor is a sedentary lifestyle with excess and even normal nutrition.

Forms

It has been established that there is a certain connection between the intake of energy substances (fats, carbohydrates) into the body and their expenditure.

The excess of the intake of energy-intensive substances over their consumption (abundant carbohydrate-fat diet) causes the accumulation of fat in the body and the gradual development of obesity. This form of obesity is called alimentary obesity.

There are other forms of obesity:

• hypothalamic - in case of dysfunction of the central nervous system;
• pituitary, hypothyroid, hypogenital - for disorders of the endocrine system;
• lipophilia - retention and accumulation of fat by subcutaneous adipose tissue.

All of these forms of obesity develop only in the presence of excess nutrition.
In this case, fat deposits are formed from fats and carbohydrates in food. The formation of fat from proteins is very small.

In obesity, water-salt metabolism may be impaired. This disorder is manifested by the accumulation of water and salt in adipose tissue. The water content in adipose tissue in obesity can reach up to 70%.

Obesity levels

There are three degrees of the disease:

• light - characterized by excess of normal weight by 25%;
• average – up to 50%;
• heavy – over 50%.

Quetelet index

Excess weight can be determined by the following formula

IR= weight(g)/height(cm).

If this figure exceeds 480 g/cm in men and 450 g/cm in women, we can talk about an increase in fat secretion.

Recently, body mass index has been used to estimate weight.

You can determine your body mass index and assess your degree of obesity here .

The effect of obesity on the cardiovascular system

When fat metabolism is disturbed, myocardial dystrophy is first observed. Infiltration of the heart muscle by adipose tissue gradually leads to atrophy of muscle fibers.

In addition, the work of the heart is hampered due to the deposition of fat on the surface of the heart and the cardiac lining.

It has been proven that obesity increases the level of cholesterol in the blood, which leads to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries. This is how coronary sclerosis is formed with the subsequent development of coronary heart disease, including myocardial infarction.

Abdominal fat deposition

Excess of this fat leads to disruptions in the functioning of both the respiratory organs and the organs and systems of the abdominal cavity.

A high position of the diaphragm complicates the excursion of the chest, impairs ventilation of the lungs, and contributes to the development of chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system.

In overweight people, the function of the gastrointestinal tract is impaired. Due to the weakness of the abdominal muscles, intra-abdominal pressure decreases, which largely regulates the motor function of the intestines and the state of blood circulation in the abdominal cavity.

Reduced intra-abdominal pressure leads to intestinal atony, which can result in constipation and flatulence.

Stagnation of blood leads to increased pressure in the veins and, as a consequence, to the development of hemorrhoids.

Fatty degeneration of the pancreas can lead to the development of diabetes.

A consequence of impaired fat metabolism is the development of gallstone disease.

Obesity significantly impairs the function of the musculoskeletal system. A large hanging belly increases lumbar lordosis, and then compensatory increases in thoracic kyphosis and cervical lordosis. As a result, the basis for the development of degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine is formed, as a result of which osteochondrosis develops.

Increased load on the hip joints contributes to the development of coxarthrosis.

Recent studies have shown that obesity causes a decrease in intelligence.

How to deal with excess weight?

The main methods of treating obesity are

• diet therapy,
• physiotherapy,
• water treatments and massage,
• therapeutic nutrition.