Which department does obesity belong to?

Written by Li Lang Bo

Endocrinology

Updated on September 16, 2024

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Obesity is defined by calculating the Body Mass Index (BMI), where one's weight in kilograms is divided by their height in meters squared to obtain a numeric value. If the BMI is 28 or higher, it is defined as obesity. There are two types of obesity based on BMI excess: simple obesity and secondary obesity. Simple obesity occurs without any other internal medical conditions, purely due to weight gain. Secondary obesity may be due to other psychosomatic diseases that lead to an increase in BMI. Therefore, it is recommended to consult the endocrinology department for physical examinations and laboratory tests to determine whether the obesity is simple or secondary. Hence, a consultation in the endocrinology department is advised.

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Written by Zhang Jun Jun

Endocrinology

48sec

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What should people with obesity not eat?

Patients with obesity generally also have elevated blood lipids, elevated blood uric acid, and slightly high blood sugar. Therefore, regarding diet, it is crucial to strictly adhere to a standard of low salt, low fat, and low purine. Avoid eating fried foods and animal offal, and do not consume carbohydrate-rich foods and sugary drinks. Additionally, for patients with high uric acid levels, it is advised not to consume excessive seafood and rich broths. It is recommended to avoid eating late-night meals, fried foods, and grilled items. The foods that should be avoided by patients with obesity are mainly determined based on the levels of blood sugar, blood lipids, blood pressure, and blood uric acid.

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Written by Li Lang Bo

Endocrinology

48sec

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What tests are needed for obesity?

Obesity is divided into simple obesity and secondary obesity. Simple obesity refers simply to being overweight without any other primary diseases. Secondary obesity requires examination of certain conditions, such as hypothyroidism, which can lead to obesity, thus necessitating thyroid function tests; or Cushing's syndrome, which involves increased body weight due to excessive corticosteroid hormones produced by various causes, necessitating an examination of the cortisol rhythm and sometimes a dexamethasone suppression test, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pituitary, and CT scan of the adrenal glands; also conditions such as depression or psychiatric illnesses that can lead to weight gain, requiring corresponding psychiatric scales, among others. In addition to these tests, it is also necessary to consider the patient's clinical symptoms and then conduct targeted examinations based on these symptoms.

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Written by Zhao Xin Lan

Endocrinology

46sec

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What tests are needed for obesity?

Obesity, also known as adiposity, is a chronic metabolic disease caused by excessive accumulation of fat or abnormal fat distribution in the body. Therefore, once obesity is diagnosed, it is necessary to conduct tests related to metabolism, such as blood glucose, blood lipids, blood pressure, and blood uric acid, which are commonly known as the "four highs" tests. Additionally, liver function tests and kidney function tests should be completed to exclude obesity caused by other diseases. It is also necessary to conduct examinations for pituitary tumors, adrenal cortex function, and thyroid function to determine whether the obesity is secondary to other diseases.

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Written by Yang Li

Endocrinology

1min 6sec

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Harms of Obesity

In the case of obesity, it is first necessary to distinguish between physiological obesity and pathological obesity. For pathological obesity, further examination of the adrenal glands is required, such as respiratory syndrome, some problems with the pituitary gland, or conditions caused by Cushing's syndrome, all of which can lead to pathological obesity. The risks associated with obesity are quite significant. Firstly, it directly causes disturbances in the body's energy metabolism, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, or other issues. Obesity can also lead to fatty liver, lipid deposition in the heart, kidneys, and other organs, resulting in corresponding organ damage. Additionally, it can cause infertility due to the deposition of fat in the ovaries, and in terms of joints, it places excessive load on the human joints, leading to various joint diseases, and consequently increasing the risks of cardiovascular diseases and sudden death risks.

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Written by Chen Li Ping

Endocrinology

1min 18sec

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Will obesity be inherited?

The primary cause of simple obesity, where the reason for being overweight is unclear, is an energy intake that exceeds energy expenditure. There are also certain genetic factors involved. Generally, it is believed that susceptibility to obesity varies among human races, along with the presence of obesity genes and variations in genes related to obesity. Additionally, an individual’s metabolic type, appetite, digestive absorption functions, sleep quality, and metabolic efficiency form the basis for the development of simple obesity. Poor lifestyle habits, such as insufficient physical activity and excessive energy intake, are necessary conditions for its occurrence. Epidemiological surveys have shown that most people with simple obesity have a familial tendency towards the condition. Children born to obese parents are 5-8 times more likely to develop simple obesity than those born to parents who both have a normal weight. However, the majority of cases of simple obesity are not caused by obesity genes or mutations in genes related to obesity.