The Truth About Obesity Everybody Should Know

Nowadays, people try to stay fit, and there are plenty of diets out there making them obsessed with their weight. However, it was not always like that. In ancient times, obesity was perceived as beauty and a synonym of fertility. But what is the truth about obesity? In this article, you will get a balanced view about obesity to adopt and find your healthy weight and the right mindset.

WHAT OBESITY REALLY DOES
Obesity is excess body fat, and it is diagnosed by looking at the patient’s body mass index (BMI). You can easily calculate your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by your height in meters squared. The formula looks like this: BMI = kg/m2. And if your result is above 30, you’re clinically obese. Excess fat in obesity leads to various clinical conditions, and we will focus our attention on hypertension, type 2 diabetes and stroke.

There’s an obvious link between obesity and hypertension. Scientists are still investigating the connection, but it is apparently because obesity leads to sodium retention, an alteration in the renal control of the blood pressure, and fat build-ups in the blood vessels, which ultimately cause hypertension.

The connection with type 2 diabetes is even more evident. Type 2 diabetes is the end-phase of a series of metabolic alterations usually known as the metabolic syndrome. Obesity is associated with excess energy sources and causes modifications to the metabolism of energy. Carbohydrates are another important part of this equation, and when there are alterations, glucose and insulin levels start to spike, wearing down the pancreas and slowly leading to a dysfunction of this organ.

And finally, both hypertension and type 2 diabetes increase your cardiovascular risk and your chance of stroke and heart attack. There are various types of stroke, and one of them is associated with fat buildup in the arteries. Excess fat travels through the bloodstream, and fat cells release inflammatory substances that speed up the formation of fatty plaques in the blood vessels. When these plaques become bigger and rupture, they start creating clots that obliterate the arteries of the brain and causes an ischemic stroke.

Hypertension, type 2 diabetes and stroke are just a few diseases obesity triggers. We can still count asthma, joint problems, depression, and many others. Thus, obesity is definitely not a fair symbol of beauty and fertility. It has a huge downside we can’t ignore.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
Obesity has turned into stigma in our modern society, and people usually recognise it is not fine to stay obese. However, sometimes they take an extreme approach and start compromising their health to lose weight, which is absolutely pointless.

If you’re obese or overweight, the first line of treatment to reverse this condition and prevent its consequences is through careful diet and exercise. Dieting is not the same as starving, and you should keep a balanced approach when exercising as well. But achieving this equilibrium is often tricky, mainly because there are plenty of myths surrounding weight loss and exercise.

The second line of treatment is through various forms of surgery, including gastric bypass, gastric banding, gastric botox and even bariatric surgery. In this regard, our Obesity Centre is the right place to find the best information and guidance about these procedures and choose the one according to your needs. There’s no need to undergo type 2 diabetes, hypertension or stroke as a consequence of obesity if you’re guided by the best medical team in obesity medicine.

If you think you are obese and is experiencing symptoms of diabetes and heart diseases please do not hesitate to contact us or book an appointment with any of our certified bariatric surgeons and cardiologists as well as our obesity centre.