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Obesity - Information Overview
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Obesity is a chronic recurring disease characterized by excess fat tissue in the body (at least 20% of body weight in men and 25% of body weight in women, with a body mass index of more than 25-30 kg/m2 ). Obesity occurs as a result of the deposition of excessive amounts of fat tissue.
In economically developed countries, 25-30% of the population suffers from obesity.
[ What causes obesity?
There are several types of obesity. Endocrine obesity occurs with increased production of hormones by the adrenal cortex in the body or as a result of prolonged use of these hormones for therapeutic purposes, during menopause or as a result of functional insufficiency of the sex glands and decreased secretion of sex hormones. Hereditary (familial-constitutional) factors play a significant role in the development of this disease. Hypothalamic obesity is characterized by excessive accumulation of fat and its dysplastic redistribution mainly in the area of the mammary glands, hips, and abdomen. Alimentary-constitutional obesity develops mainly with constant overeating, an unhealthy diet, and lack of necessary physical activity.
The main factor causing obesity is the imbalance between incoming and outgoing energy. Among the causes that provoke the development of this pathology, doctors highlight unbalanced nutrition and constant overeating, zero physical activity, regular stress and insufficient duration of sleep and rest, disruption of the endocrine glands, genetic predisposition, etc.
What are the symptoms of obesity?
Symptoms of the disease vary depending on the degree of obesity. In the early stages, there may be no complaints of obesity. In severe cases, the patient experiences frequent shortness of breath, weakness, pain in the spine and joints, high blood pressure, swelling of the legs, nausea and bitterness in the mouth, irritability, as well as excessive appetite and thirst. The skin becomes unhealthy, men experience problems with potency, and women experience problems with the menstrual cycle.
How to recognize obesity?
To diagnose the disease, the patient's height and weight, waist and hip measurements are measured. Various biochemical and hormonal tests and ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs, electrocardiogram, and skull X-ray are also prescribed.
What tests are needed?
Who to contact?
How is obesity treated?
Obesity treatment is a complex of procedures aimed at improving metabolism and correcting body weight, since excess weight undoubtedly has a negative impact on the patient’s life expectancy and quality of life.
Obesity treatment includes a range of different procedures. To begin with, you should increase physical activity, adhere to a healthy diet, and switch to a low-calorie diet. Absolute fasting is practiced strictly in hospital settings, under the supervision of a doctor.
Alimentary-constitutional obesity is treated with cold in order to improve metabolic processes - dousing, contrast baths, etc. Thermal procedures are also used in the absence of cardiovascular diseases.
To reduce appetite in the complex therapy of obesity, anorexigenic drugs that suppress the feeling of hunger are also prescribed - mazindol, desopimone, fenfluramine, fepranone. Such drugs as desopimone, fepranone and mazindol can cause side effects, manifested in the form of irritability, sleep disorders, increased blood pressure. With prolonged use of these drugs, addiction and dependence can develop, these drugs should be prescribed only by a doctor. Fenfluramine, unlike the previous drugs, on the contrary, has a calming effect.
Obesity in the initial stage is treated with the use of diuretics (drugs that accelerate the elimination of water and salts), as well as herbal preparations.
Obesity treatment is a rather long process that requires, in addition to medication, a range of different exercises and procedures. Since obesity can be the result of various causes - neurological, endocrinological, therapeutic - you should first contact a therapist for a full examination and referral to a specialist. Surgical intervention may be indicated in the presence of stage three or four obesity.
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