The single most important public problem of the 21st century has become obesity. It troubles several individuals around the world and is linked to a variety of health issues.
Despite its common occurrence and the relevance it might get, there are, however, still questions concerning whether obesity is a disease.
And in this article, we’ll dive in deep to explore all the things which make obesity a disease. Let’s begin!
Definition and Criteria of a Disease
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a disease is a precise abnormal condition that negatively impacts the structure or function of a body part or the entire entity.
The condition is typically defined by a recognized group of signs and symptoms. Diseases are categorized according to their etiology, mechanisms, and therapy options.
This chronic condition is impacted by excessive fat storage, which is injurious to health. This is usually measured using the Body Mass Index (BMI); obese is from a Bilaterally Multicentric involvement (In this general classification, a BMI over 30 is identified as obese).
Obesity worsens a range of harmful health impacts and is identified by certain signs and symptoms like increased weight along with comorbidities.
Health Implications of Obesity
Obesity is closely associated with many of the major health conditions. Thus, it is classified as a disease by default. These include, but are not limited to:
Cardiovascular Diseases
Obesity poses the main risk factor for high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and stroke. The extra bodily fat, mainly the visceral fat, promotes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which is instrumental in inflammation and lipid abnormalities.
Type 2 Diabetes
In other words, the issue of insulin resistance is inevitably attached to obesity. Eventually, the pancreas is unable to produce sufficient insulin to counterbalance this resistance, which correspondingly causes the blood glucose to rise and type 2 diabetes to occur.
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Being overweight strains bones and joints, which causes disorders like osteoarthritis to develop. This may greatly hinder one’s movement and overall happiness.
Cancers
The chances are high that obesity may cause a range of cancer types, such as breast and colorectal cancer, and it is even a source of endometrial cancer. The hormonal fluctuations, chronic inflammation, and metabolism dysfunction are suspected to be the modus operandi.
Mental Health Issues
The condition of obesity has the proximity to cause other complications like depression, anxiety, and a good number of mental health problems. Being on obesity drugs can also trigger mental health issues. Moreover, the stigmatization and social discrimination people with obesity face can generate these conditions. Thus, it becomes a nasty circle.
The Complexity of Obesity
Assigning obesity such a status signifies an in-depth look at this condition. Overeating or lack of physical activity are not the main reasons for obesity; several other factors can also influence it.
Genetics
The body weight of humans is greatly determined by genes. Research has proven that certain genes can lead people to become obese by influencing factors such as appetite regulation, fat storage, and energy metabolism.
Metabolism
Metabolic differences even go so far as to create a state in which some people can utilize calories better than others, eventually affecting weight gain.
Environment
Man-made issues like the availability of high-calorie foods, which you can consume without even being active, or staying in urban areas where air pollution is high are among the main reasons for the obesity epidemic.
Behavior
Also, behavioral issues such as an individual’s food consumption quality, stress level, and sleep rhythm are critical and affect weight gain significantly. Some of these behavioral changes could be suffering from an eating disorder or having the effects of chronic hunger.
Addressing Obesity: A Multi-Faceted Approach
As obesity is complex, it is necessary to address it multi-faceted at the individual, community, and social levels.
Individual Interventions
To manage obesity effectively, a mixture of diet changes, exercise, and therapy is required.
According to the American Medical Association, dietary changes that are followed by a person, as well as being obese, can save from several illnesses or help treat others.
The nutritional changes that doctors frequently recommend are foods high in fiber and whole grains, avoiding snacks high in fat and sugar, and reducing the intake of cigarettes.
The main dietary changes required are nutrition, portion control, and avoiding unhealthy snacks such as high-sugar and high-fat processed foods.
Physical exercise is also important. It can be hitting the gym or as simple as running or yoga.
Behavioral therapy enables a person to address mental, emotional, and social problems and learn how to implement healthy habits into life, which keeps him/her slim.
Counseling is a short but intensive strategy that helps a person develop insights into their problems.
Medical Interventions
On the other hand, for a few people, altering behaviors exclusively may not be enough to contain the obesity issue, so, in such cases, medicines and surgeries are thus needed. In these instances, medical interventions through medications have some precursors.
The doctors must inform the patients about the action of the drugs that they recommend. Besides, they also have to describe the side effects and any other drugs the patients stay on during the treatment.
Commonly used drugs that can result in obesity are certain corticosteroids, adjuvant thiamine, and antiepileptics. These drugs have a lot of side effects, such as neuron, anorexia, and heart attack, to mention a few.
The Role of Education and Advocacy
Moreover, education and advocacy are other indispensable means to solve overweight issues.
Social campaigns concerning the public health sector, which notify about the possible jeopardy that obesity can cause and the decisive choice of a healthy lifestyle, can motivate the persons to alter their way of life.
Healthcare professionals are the drivers of knowledge to patients regarding its benefits and show them the paths to the right resources and treatments.
Conclusion
And there you have it, all the reasons why obesity is a disease. This classification underscores the significant health impacts of obesity, including its association with chronic diseases and premature mortality.
Addressing and having an innovative approach to obesity requires a robust education and advocacy efforts.
By viewing obesity through the lens of a disease, society can better support those affected and implement effective strategies to reduce its prevalence and improve public health outcomes.
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