Obesity
Obesity is a dangerous condition that increases the likelihood of related diseases that interfere with normal daily life.
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Obesity is a dangerous condition that increases the likelihood of related diseases that interfere with normal daily life.
Fat folds on your stomach? Clothes feeling tight and your weight above normal? Specialists can help you find and address the cause of weight gain. You can get full information on how to treat obesity at CSM Clinic, where experienced doctors of various specialties work and where evidence-based medicine protocols and original methods are used to address excess weight and its consequences. According to international WHO experts, this condition has become a global epidemic affecting millions of people in all corners of the world. Women are affected more often than men. Both sexes are most prone to weight gain between the ages of 30 and 60.
Obesity is an accumulation of fat tissue in the body well above the norm, accompanied by metabolic disturbances and a body weight increase of more than 20%. It is a source of physical discomfort and can also provoke psychological disorders. Excess weight significantly raises the likelihood of developing diabetes, heart and blood vessel diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, and kidney and liver diseases. Without treatment, excess body weight can greatly reduce a person's quality of life and even lead to death from the consequences of obesity.
For people aged 18-65, a normal body mass index (BMI), calculated by the formula "body weight in kg / height in m2", is 18.5-24.9. A value of 25.0-29.9 indicates excess weight and the pre-obesity stage.
Based on how far BMI exceeds the norm, four degrees of obesity are distinguished:
Types of obesity are defined by where fat tissue mainly accumulates:
By course, obesity is described as:
When the causes of development are considered, obesity is classified as:
Excess weight is mostly recorded when there is a clear mismatch between the energy received from food and the energy spent in daily life. Extra calories are converted into fat tissue, which accumulates in certain areas of the body. As a result, weight increases and individual organs and entire systems start to function poorly.
According to specialists' observations, in most cases obesity is linked to overeating, and in only a small share of patients is weight gain caused by metabolic disorders.
Various contributing factors promote excess weight:
When eating processes are disturbed, hypothalamic-pituitary regulation changes, which affects behavioral responses. Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary system increases ACTH synthesis and raises the production and subsequent breakdown of cortisol. As a result, secretion of growth hormone, which promotes the breakdown of fats, decreases, thyroid hormone metabolism and tissue sensitivity to these hormones are disrupted, and hyperinsulinemia develops.
The main symptom of obesity is weight gain of more than 20%. Fat deposits increase the volume of the abdomen, shoulders, back, nape, buttocks, pelvic area, and thighs, while the muscles remain underdeveloped. A person's appearance changes: a double chin appears, abdominal folds hang like an apron, and the hip area takes on a "saddlebag" shape. Overstrain of the abdominal wall often leads to umbilical and inguinal hernias.
Signs of obesity also include various manifestations unrelated to external and structural changes:
In people with grade III-IV obesity, heart function and the condition of blood vessels are affected. Tachycardia, arterial hypertension, and muffled heart sounds occur, along with symptoms of respiratory failure. Disturbed fat metabolism negatively affects the liver and digestive organs, which can show up as chronic pancreatitis and cholecystitis. Excess weight causes problems in the joints and spine.
Extra pounds often cause menstrual cycle irregularities and can lead to amenorrhea. Because of hyperhidrosis and metabolic disorders, the skin suffers, and eczema, pyoderma, furunculosis, and acne may develop. Stretch marks and hyperpigmentation appear on the skin.
Obesity in children mostly develops as a result of an energy imbalance caused by overeating. When both parents have excess weight, the child's likelihood of developing the condition is considerably higher, and it is lower when only one parent is affected. The likelihood of later obesity is also higher in children who were born with a high birth weight or were formula-fed. In teenagers, obesity is often caused by hormonal imbalance and stress factors. Less often, excess weight appears alongside endocrine disorders, genetic syndromes, traumatic brain injury, and other central nervous system conditions (meningitis, brain tumors, encephalitis, and others).
The diet of children and teenagers with excess weight very often includes sweets, baked goods, fast food, and sweet and carbonated drinks. There is a shortage of protein foods, fiber, and water. These children and teenagers are less physically active and in their free time prefer gadgets to outdoor sports games.
Children and teenagers with obesity often develop:
Extra pounds lead to complications of obesity such as:
The consequences of obesity increase the risk of cancer. Existing complications increase the likelihood of sudden death.
For comprehensive diagnosis of obesity, you need to see an endocrinologist. The examination plan may include the following tests:
To clarify how excess weight affects individual organs and systems, ultrasound, MRI, and CT may be used. If dysfunctions are found, consultations with a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, and other specialists may be recommended.
Several methods are used for comprehensive treatment of obesity. The treatment approach depends on how pronounced the symptoms are, and treatment always starts with choosing a diet and increasing physical activity. Building motivation to normalize weight is extremely important.
A low-calorie diet that takes taste preferences into account is prescribed for obesity. A set of exercises to activate metabolic processes and the breakdown of fats can help enhance its effect. Any restrictive dietary approaches are used only under medical supervision.
An individual exercise program is developed for each patient, taking overall health into account. Frequent walking, swimming, cycling, and other sports are recommended.
Psychological counseling helps patients understand the reason for weight gain and focus on forming new, healthy eating habits. In psychotherapy sessions, patients are helped to strengthen their motivation for treatment, raise self-esteem, overcome insecurities, and improve stress resilience. Hypnosis sessions are recommended for some patients.
Medications for obesity are recommended when diet and exercise have not been effective. The choice of medication, its dose and the duration of treatment are decided only by the doctor, taking contraindications into account.
The pharmacotherapy plan also includes drugs to treat any diseases that are found. These are prescribed by the relevant specialists.
Surgical bariatric procedures for removing excess weight are necessary only when BMI cannot be brought below 40 over a long period. Liposuction may be used as a cosmetic method. Gastric banding, vertical gastroplasty, or gastric bypass are used to address the underlying causes of weight gain. For morbid obesity, left gastric artery embolization is sometimes considered; it is a newer technique that is still being studied.
At CSM Clinic, patients have the opportunity to take a course of therapy using the author's method of Valeriy Patonych, a leading specialist in the treatment of eating disorders. The physiotherapy program was previously widely used in Revocanda plus centers. The method aims to help relieve the signs of the condition and support lasting improvement. During the program developed by Valeriy Patonych, each patient is assigned a personal consultant who provides advice and support.
With normal weight, it is enough to keep a balance between calories consumed and calories burned. If a person tends to gain weight, to prevent extra pounds they should reduce foods high in carbohydrates and fats and increase plant-based and protein foods. Everyone is advised to stay physically active: walking, going to the gym, swimming, race walking, or running.
Do you want to take a course of treatment for obesity and are looking for experienced specialists? Contact CSM Clinic by calling the phone number listed on the website or by filling out the online booking or callback request form. Specialists will contact you promptly and book an appointment with a doctor at a time that suits you.