Obesity is a disease.

Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
Updated on February 26, 2025
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Obesity is related to an excessive accumulation of fat in the body, or abnormal distribution of fat, leading to weight gain. The causes include environmental factors, genetic factors, and other elements interacting to trigger this metabolic disease. Nowadays, dietary patterns have resulted in an increasing population of overweight and obese individuals. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the causes of obesity. If it is a case of simple obesity, it can be managed through diet and exercise. If it is pathological obesity, such as Cushing's syndrome, this type of obesity primarily causes abdominal obesity, thin limbs, abdominal purple streaks, and may also include increased facial acne. In such cases, medical or even surgical interventions might be necessary.

Other Voices

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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 Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
1min 33sec home-news-image

Obesity weight loss methods

The treatment of obesity involves two main components. One is reducing calorie intake and the other is increasing calorie consumption, mainly emphasizing a comprehensive treatment based primarily on diet and exercise. Secondly, medications or surgical treatments can be utilized. In the case of secondary obesity, it is important to treat the underlying cause. So, what is behavioral therapy? It involves educating patients and their families about obesity and its risks, enabling them to cooperate with the treatment, adopt a healthy lifestyle, change dietary and exercise habits, and maintain these changes consciently in the long term as the foremost and most important measures in the treatment of obesity. Thirdly, controlling diet and increasing physical activity are crucial. Individuals with mild obesity can control their total food intake with a low-calorie, low-fat diet. For those with moderate to severe obesity, total calorie intake should be strictly controlled, with women limited to 1200-1500 kcal per day and men to 1500-1800 kcal per day. Following this standard, a weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week can be achieved. Furthermore, for severe obesity, medications can be used to reduce weight, which can then be maintained. If necessary, surgical procedures such as jejunoileal bypass or biliopancreatic diversion surgery can be considered.

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Written by Li Lang Bo
Endocrinology
1min 6sec home-news-image

What are the dietary restrictions for obesity?

If it's obesity, it means a body mass index (BMI) greater than 28. In terms of dietary restrictions for obesity, the general principles are low salt and low fat. First and foremost, intake of fats should be limited, including both the cooking oils and foods consumed. Preference should be given to vegetable oils, and consumption of animal fats should be minimized. Even with vegetable oils, there is a limit to how much should be used, as excessive amounts can also exceed health standards. Furthermore, one should eat less fast food and junk food, such as various fried foods or those containing excessive seasonings, and these foods should be consumed minimally. There are also "invisible" fats to consider, such as those found in nut snacks and various small packaged snacks like peanuts and fried beans, which are very high in calories and should be consumed less. Additionally, sugary drinks like iced tea and pear syrup drinks should be avoided. The overall principle is a low-calorie diet, avoiding high-calorie foods.

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Written by Yang Li
Endocrinology
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Can obesity get pregnant?

Obesity firstly needs to be differentiated, whether it is a type of physiological obesity or a pathological obesity, such as diseases of the growth gland, Cushing's syndrome, etc., which cause pathological obesity. In this case, some corresponding examinations are required for differentiation. If it is simple obesity, further tests for insulin resistance, blood glucose, blood lipids, and other metabolic indicators are necessary to determine if they are normal, as well as liver and kidney functions. If these conditions are all acceptable, pregnancy is possible. However, it is still important to monitor these indicators during pregnancy. Obesity is not an absolute contraindication for pregnancy, but of course, it is best to control the weight before getting pregnant.

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Written by Chen Li Ping
Endocrinology
1min 18sec home-news-image

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.