What is it
Obesity is a disease in all respects. For some years it has been considered a real epidemic in industrialized countries: just think that in Italy it affects over 4 million individuals and about 20% of school-age children.
We talk about obesity when the body mass index of an individual (the value obtained by dividing the weight in kg by the height in meters squared) exceeds the value of 30.
| Severe thinness | BMI < 16.5 |
| Underweight | BMI 16-18 |
| Normal weight | BMI 18.5-24.9 |
| Overweight | BMI 25-29.9 |
| Mild obesity | BMI 30-34.9 |
| Average obesity | BMI 35-39.9 |
| Severe obesity | BMI > 40 |
Causes
A minority of cases have genetic origin or are related to hormonal and metabolic alterations (e.g. thyroid dysfunction, hormonal alterations).
Mostly obesity is favored by overeating or incorrect nutrition, with excessive intake of fats at the expense of sugars and fiber, sedentary lifestyle and drugs (for example antipsychotics, antiepileptics, antidepressants, corticosteroids).
Common symptoms
In addition to causing a noticeable modification of the body structure and aesthetics, obesity involves different disorders depending on its severity.
Among the most frequent are acne, breathlessness, difficulty moving, alterations in the menstrual cycle, apnea crises during sleep and early atherosclerosis.
Complications
The possible complications of obesity are countless. Hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (angina, myocardial infarction, stroke) are undoubtedly the most feared.
These are associated with early osteoarthritis, alterations in the hormonal picture, hirsutism (appearance of hair all over the body) and amenorrhea in women, reduction or loss of self-esteem, anxiety syndromes, sleep disorders.
Treatment
First of all, the treatment is based on an adequate diet and lifestyle changes (increased motor activity and therefore caloric expenditure).
Drugs, especially in severe cases, must be prescribed by the doctor and always used in a reasoned manner, in the context of an overall approach that provides psychological, behavioral and educational support.
Surgery is reserved for individuals with forms of severe obesity and not controllable with other treatments.
When to consult your doctor
The doctor can make an important contribution to preventing and solving obesity. To be avoided absolutely is the DIY, especially in the face of the possibility of arbitrary use of pharmacological preparations or the use of diets that promise striking results in short periods.
The trusted doctor is therefore the best advisor when a person becomes aware of his state and decides to embark on a path to weight loss
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
The blog covers a wide range of topics related to health and wellness, with articles organized into several categories.