What should people with obesity not eat?

Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
Updated on December 22, 2024
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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
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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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Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
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Can people with obesity exercise?

Obesity is a metabolic disease caused by excessive accumulation of fat in the body or abnormal distribution, commonly referred to as obesity, with body weight exceeding the standard. Obesity can be due to excessive intake and insufficient exercise; thus, not only can obese individuals exercise, but they also need to persist in it. However, during exercise, it is important to consider special circumstances. The amount and method of exercise vary from person to person, and it is necessary to develop individualized exercise plans and choose exercises or programs that are easy to maintain while progressively advancing. However, when designing exercise treatment plans, it is crucial to consider the impact of complications, especially for patients with cardiovascular, respiratory, or musculoskeletal comorbidities, and choose suitable forms of exercise. Generally, it is recommended to exercise three to five days per week, with 30 to 45 minutes of appropriate activity each day. Patients with these complications should avoid intense exercises and can start with mild activities such as brisk walking, swimming, and strolling, or consult with rehabilitation specialists to develop appropriate individualized exercise plans.

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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
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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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Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
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The Harms of Obesity

Mild to moderate primary obesity might not present with noticeable symptoms. However, individuals with severe obesity may experience heat intolerance, reduced physical activity capability, mild shortness of breath during activities, and snoring during sleep. The likelihood of developing coronary heart disease and hypertension is significantly higher in obese individuals compared to those who are not obese. Obesity leads to reduced lung capacity and decreased pulmonary compliance, which can cause various pulmonary functional abnormalities. For instance, obese hypoventilation syndrome, clinically characterized by sleepiness, obesity, and alveolar hypoventilation, often accompanies obstructive sleep apnea. Severe cases of obesity may lead to pulmonary heart syndrome. Obese individuals often experience metabolic disorders of lipids and carbohydrates; lipid metabolism disorders can lead to hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia, while carbohydrate metabolism disorders are marked by glucose intolerance and diabetes. Moreover, obese individuals are more prone to arthritis, gout, and osteoporosis. Sexual dysfunction is common in obese individuals, with some obese men developing gynecomastia; obese girls tend to have an earlier onset of menstruation, while adult women with obesity often experience menstrual disorders, and in severe cases, amenorrhea. The incidence of polycystic ovary syndrome is also significantly higher in obese women compared to non-obese women.

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Endocrinology
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Obesity is a disease.

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.