Obesity is not merely the changes we observe with our physical body or the weighing scale. According to WHO, among the top 10 causes of death in 2019, 4 of them are related to obesity; hence, we strongly encourage everyone to keep weight at a healthy BMI! Check BMI ranges
Being obese increases the mortality rate.
Obesity is a chronic disease. According to WHO's definition, it is known to have abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in the body. We thought that gaining 2-3 kg in a year is not a big deal, but in the long run, if weight gain is not well-controlled, we are also increasing the risk of getting diseases.
Being obese is having a higher chance of suffering from diabetes, metabolic syndrome, fatty liver, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux, degenerative arthritis, infertility, depression, as well as increasing the the risk of cancers, such as esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer and so on.
Here are the 3 most common diseases caused by obesity
1. Diabetes
According to the latest diabetes statistics report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 89% of diabetes patients are overweight or obese.
What causes obesity?
The food we consume will breakdown into glucose and released into the bloodstream. At this time, the pancreas will secrete insulin and the glucose will enter the cells to regulate the blood sugar/glucose level within the normal range. However, when the fat percentage is high, the body's cells will under-react to the normal concentration of insulin, which the glucose in the bloodstream cannot be absorbed by the cells, resulting in an increase in the blood sugar level - known as insulin resistance.
Initially the pancreas will secrete more insulin to overcome the effect of fat on blood sugar, but when the impaired insulin action cannot be reversed, type 2 diabetes will develop.
In a 14-year health study of 114,281 nurses, obesity was proven to be the main risk factor for diabetes, and losing weight of 5% can reduce the risk of diabetes by 50%. This fact is also proven by Health Technology Assessment, Diabetes Prevention Program, and Look AHEAD Diabetes Health Action Research.
2. Cardiovascular disease (CVD)
People with cardiovascular disease may experience heart disease, heart failure, sudden death, stroke, angina or abnormal heart rate. Obesity is often accompanied by health problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar, which will add burden to the heart and blood circulation.
A significant number of research results have proven that obesity has a significant adverse effect on CVD. On the contrary, losing 5-10% of body weight can help reduce the risk of heart disease and may improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood flow.
3. Cancer
Firstly, obese people often have chronic low-grade inflammation that causes cell damage, which leads to cancer. Compared with people of normal weight, those who are overweight and obese are more likely to suffer from chronic local inflammation and these are risk factors for certain cancers. For example, chronic inflammation caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease or Barrett esophagus may be the cause of esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Secondly, adipose tissue will produce excessive estrogen, which increases the risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer and other cancers. Thirdly, obese people usually have high levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which may promote the development of colon cancer, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, and endometrial cancer.
Studies have proven that there is a close relationship between obesity and cancer. Fortunately, the symptoms caused by obesity can be improvised through diet which is the healthiest, most natural & scientific way. Guidance and advice from a certified dietitian is needed if diet change is major.
Are extreme weight-loss methods faster and more effective?
Extremely obese people may need to take extreme method to lose weight, and this complex process needs to be carried out by a doctor. For example, bariatric surgery will shorten the intestines and stomach to reduce nutrient absorption. If weight loss medication is not taken correctly, it may cause many side effects and sequelae.
There are also many methods for weight loss available on the market, which claimed to help you to lose 10 kilograms in 10 days. However, according to the in-house dietitians of 27GROUP, these methods usually cause loss of nutrients and slow down metabolism. Although the results can be observed in a short period, weight will rebound when extreme methods are no longer implemented, resulting in weight gain.
In conclusion, using the sustainable & healthy weight loss method is important to lose weight successfully.
Found this information useful? Share them on your social media platform! Are you finding a sustainable & healthy weight loss method? Book your consultation with our dietitian now to lose weight healthily.
Written by 27GROUP Dietitian
Edited by C, Creatives by 27Designer
References:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0238566
https://www.moh.gov.my/moh/penerbitan/MYHAAG2018.pdf
https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/healthissues/healthy-weight-loss.html
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