What tests are needed for obesity?

Written by Li Lang Bo
Endocrinology
Updated on September 25, 2024
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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 Li Lang Bo
Endocrinology
1min 14sec home-news-image

What department does obesity hang?

First, I recommend visiting the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Science, because obesity itself is a metabolic disease, and now obesity is divided into simple obesity and secondary obesity. Simple obesity refers to weight gain caused solely by factors such as irregular eating habits, unscientific diet, and lack of exercise, without other underlying causes. There is also a type called secondary obesity, which is attributable to identifiable causes. For example, a common disorder in endocrinology known as Cushing's syndrome is caused by problems in the pituitary or adrenal glands, leading to an excessive secretion of cortisol in the blood. This results in the redistribution of fat and subsequent weight gain. Another example is hypothyroidism, which also causes weight gain. Therefore, it is essential to see an endocrinologist, who can determine based on clinical manifestations and actual conditions whether the obesity is simple or secondary, and then provide appropriate treatment.

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Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
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Obesity is considered a type of disease.

Obesity is an endocrine and metabolic disease, also known as obesity disorder, mainly caused by excessive accumulation or abnormal distribution of body fat, leading to a chronic metabolic disease. It can result from various factors including genetic and environmental interactions, often characterized by excessive abdominal fat accumulation. Additionally, obesity is closely related to the occurrence of hypertension, coronary heart disease, type II diabetes, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, cholecystitis, gallstones, osteoarthritis, and more. Therefore, obesity is classified as an endocrine and metabolic disease.

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Written by Li Lang Bo
Endocrinology
48sec home-news-image

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 Li Lang Bo
Endocrinology
1min 16sec home-news-image

What department do you see for obesity?

The preferred specialty is endocrinology and metabolism because obesity itself is a metabolic disease. Besides the commonly known simple obesity, there is also a type called secondary obesity. The distinction between the two is that in simple obesity, the body does not suffer from any other disease; weight gain is merely caused by unscientific diet, irregular lifestyle, and lack of exercise, which can be resolved through some scientific methods. Another type is called secondary obesity, such as a common disease in endocrinology called Cushing's syndrome. It is caused by a tumor or hyperplasia in the pituitary or adrenal glands, or other reasons that lead to an excessive secretion of cortisol in the blood, consequently causing a redistribution of body fat, leading to moon face, buffalo hump, and accumulation of subcutaneous fat in the abdomen. Common in endocrinology, hypothyroidism can also lead to weight gain. This requires endocrinology specialists to diagnose and identify the specific condition in order to provide appropriate treatment.

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Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
44sec home-news-image

Obesity.

Obesity is a metabolic disease that occurs when the caloric intake of the human body exceeds the calories burned. The surplus calories are stored in the body as fat. When the amount of accumulated fat exceeds the normal physiological needs and reaches a certain level, it develops into obesity. Therefore, obesity is the manifestation of excess calories stored as fat in the body. There are many methods to assess obesity, with the Body Mass Index (BMI) being one of the most common. The formula for calculating BMI is weight divided by height squared. In China, a BMI of 28 or greater is generally considered obese.