Can people with obesity eat pork?

Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
Updated on November 12, 2024
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Patients with obesity are advised to primarily consume lean pork, as it generally contains more protein. If the pork is fatty, it has a higher fat content. Since obesity is a disease of nutritional excess, it is necessary to strictly control the total calorie intake, including carbohydrates, proteins, and fats — particularly the intake of carbohydrates and fats, which are strictly limited. However, patients with obesity can eat lean pork, as it contains high-quality protein which is beneficial for their physical health. Thus, people with obesity can eat pork, but they should focus on consuming lean cuts.

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Causes of Obesity

In the medical field, obesity is categorized into two types: primary (simple) obesity and secondary obesity. Primary obesity occurs without any other physical diseases and is solely due to irregular lifestyle, unscientific eating habits, and lack of exercise, leading to weight gain. This type can be managed with lifestyle adjustments and proper dietary guidance to reduce weight. Secondary obesity, which is less common, often involves endocrine disorders such as Cushing's syndrome. This condition can arise from issues with the pituitary or adrenal glands, or other parts of the body such as tumors, leading to excessive secretion of cortisol. This in turn causes redistribution of body fat, leading to characteristic signs like moon face, buffalo hump, and accumulation of subcutaneous fat which are manifestations of obesity. Additionally, conditions like hypothyroidism can lead to myxedema, contributing to obesity, as well as drug-induced obesity. Examples include patients with nephrotic syndrome or lupus who experience weight gain from prolonged use of corticosteroids. Therefore, the causes are diverse and require differential diagnosis by a specialist based on the individual's condition.

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The causes of obesity

Obesity can be classified into primary and secondary obesity according to its causes. Primary obesity, also known as simple obesity, is the most common type among various forms of obesity. It is mainly caused by poor dietary habits such as overeating, especially excessive intake of fatty foods, and a sedentary lifestyle, rather than being secondary to other diseases. Secondary obesity, on the other hand, is often due to diseases of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, hypercortisolism, hypofunction of the thyroid or gonads, insulinomas, and other diseases. Secondary obesity is mainly due to diseases, and it can show some symptoms of the underlying disease.

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Obesity is classified as a disease.

Obesity is a clinical syndrome characterized by a body mass index (BMI) exceeding normal levels. Generally, obesity with an unclear cause is called simple obesity, or primary obesity, while obesity with a known cause is called secondary obesity. In China, the standards for BMI are as follows: a normal BMI is below 24 kg/m². Being overweight is defined as having a BMI greater than 24 kg/m², mild obesity is greater than 26 kg/m², moderate obesity is greater than 28 kg/m², and severe obesity is greater than 30 kg/m². Therefore, obesity is a metabolic clinical syndrome.

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What diseases are people with obesity prone to?

Obesity, also known as adiposis, is a chronic metabolic disease caused by excessive accumulation or abnormal distribution of body fat. It results from the interaction of multiple factors, including genetics and environmental elements. Patients with obesity have a significantly increased incidence of hypertension, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, osteoarticular diseases, and certain tumors and cardiovascular diseases are closely related to obesity.

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symptoms of obesity

Regarding the symptoms of obesity, they vary with the type of disease. For example, in secondary cases, there are clinical manifestations of the primary disease. For instance, obesity caused by hypothyroidism may also present with fatigue, poor appetite, dry skin, etc. Some people have obesity due to insulinoma or recurrent hypoglycemia, leading to repeated eating. The clinical manifestations also include symptoms of hypoglycemia such as palpitations, trembling hands, sweating, and a sense of hunger. If it is a case of simple obesity, generally, men primarily show an apple-shaped obesity, with fat accumulated mainly above the waist. In contrast, women exhibit a pear-shaped obesity, with fat accumulation below the waist, such as in the lower abdomen, buttocks, and thighs. Of course, related to obesity, there are also manifestations of cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. Some people with obesity may also experience sleep apnea syndrome, venous thrombosis, and so on. Studies suggest that the incidence of malignant tumors is also higher in patients with obesity. Because patients with long-term obesity carry excess weight for a long period, they may experience lower back pain, joint pain, swelling, and are more prone to abrasion or combined fungal or purulent infections in the folds of the skin. Therefore, the clinical manifestations of obesity vary according to the cause of the disease.