Endocrinologist warned about the health risks of obesity
Obesity significantly increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and other chronic pathologies. Victoria Sadovskaya, an endocrinologist at the Sberbank Health Medical Company, told Izvestia about the causes, consequences and modern approaches to treatment on March 4, World Obesity Day.
According to the expert, obesity is a chronic disease in which excess adipose tissue accumulates in the body. The main reasons are excessive calorie intake and insufficient physical activity. However, the development of pathology is also influenced by a genetic predisposition, endocrine disorders, including diseases of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands, as well as taking certain medications, such as glucocorticoids.
"Obesity needs to be treated, as it not only significantly worsens the quality of life, but also increases the risk of developing pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular diseases, infertility, and type II diabetes. An obese person may have headaches, high blood pressure, and joint pain," Sadovskaya said.
For diagnosis, doctors use body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference measurements. BMI is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. As the doctor noted, a score of 30 or higher indicates obesity. An additional criterion is the waist size — more than 94 cm for men and more than 80 cm for women.
"In the treatment of obesity, the main goal is to reduce the risk of developing concomitant diseases and improve the quality and longevity of human life. For this purpose, non—medicinal methods, medicines, as well as surgical treatment are used," Sadovskaya said.
Non-medicinal measures include dietary and lifestyle adjustments. The doctor recommends limiting alcohol and high—calorie foods, and adhering to the "Harvard plate" principle, in which half of the diet consists of vegetables and fruits, a quarter — protein products, and a quarter - complex carbohydrates. In addition, it is important to consume a sufficient amount of liquid — about 1.5–2 liters per day.
According to the doctor, sleep patterns and physical activity are equally important. The specialist recommends sleeping at least seven hours a day and going to bed at the same time. Physical activity should be regular — three to four times a week for 30-40 minutes, including moderate cardio and strength exercises. At the same time, overly intense sports that can harm the joints should be avoided.
In addition, the specialist said that drug treatment is prescribed for a BMI above 30 or at a rate of 27 in the presence of concomitant diseases. Medications can help reduce appetite or reduce fat absorption. Sadovskaya stressed that self-administration of weight loss products can be dangerous.
"In some cases, surgical treatment, bariatric surgery, is used to treat severe forms of obesity and related metabolic disorders. It is important to emphasize that they are used when conservative methods, such as diet, physical activity, and drug therapy do not produce sustainable results," she said.
On February 11, scientists from University College London (UCL) found that obese people have a 70% higher risk of hospitalization or death from infections. It was also noted that people with a body mass index above 40 had a three-fold higher risk of severe infection.
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