The main causes of obesity in adults and children
The main cause of obesity in both adults and children is overeating. Chronic overeating leads to disruptions in the functioning of the appetite center in the brain, and the normal amount of food eaten can no longer suppress the feeling of hunger to the required degree. Excess, extra food is utilized by the body and stored "in reserve" in the fat depot, which leads to an increase in the amount of fat in the body, that is, to the development of obesity. However, there are many reasons that make a person overeat: Strong emotions can reduce the sensitivity of the saturation center in the brain, and a person begins to eat more food without noticing it. A similar situation can be the result of a number of psycho-emotional factors, such as feelings of loneliness, anxiety, longing, as well as in people suffering from neurosis such as neurasthenia. In these cases, food seems to replace positive emotions. Many people eat a lot before going to bed, sitting in front of the TV, which also contributes to obesity.
In addition, in the development of overeating and, as a consequence, obesity, the appearance and smell of food are of extreme importance: beautifully prepared, with its own appearance, a daring appetite, fragrant food forces a person, overcoming the feeling of satiety, to continue eating.
Age is of great importance in the development of obesity, which is why a special type of obesity is even distinguished - age-related. This type of obesity is associated with age-related disruption of the activity of a number of special brain centers, including the appetite center. To suppress the feeling of hunger with age, a larger amount of food is required. Therefore, imperceptibly for themselves, many people begin to eat more and overeat with age. In addition, a decrease in the activity of the thyroid gland, which produces hormones and takes part in metabolism, is of great importance in the development of age-related obesity.
The second most important factor leading to the development of obesity is low physical activity, when even the normal amount of food consumed is excessive, because the calories that enter the body with food are not burned during physical activity, turning into fat. Therefore, the less we move, the less we must eat in order not to gain weight.
In a number of diseases, obesity is one of the components of the underlying disease. For example, in endocrine diseases such as Cushing's disease, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, insulinoma, obesity is usually present. These diseases are treated by endocrinologists.
In all of the above diseases, obesity is called secondary obesity. The principles of its treatment are similar to those used in the treatment of obesity caused by overeating and a sedentary lifestyle. In this case, the main thing is to treat the underlying disease that caused the development of obesity. The cause of obesity in each specific patient should be determined by an endocrinologist who, after conducting a number of special studies, will determine whether obesity is associated only with a sedentary lifestyle and overeating or whether secondary obesity is present.
Obesity - excessive fat deposition in the body - can be an independent disease or a syndrome that develops with other diseases. In the latter case, obesity can be eliminated after treatment or compensation of the underlying disease.
People suffering from obesity are subject to a number of serious diseases. It is known that hypertension develops in obese patients 2-3 times more often, and coronary heart disease, angina pectoris - 3-4 times more often than in people with normal body weight. Almost all diseases, including influenza, pneumonia, acute respiratory diseases, are more severe in obese patients, require longer treatment, and have a high percentage of complications.
How to determine if you are obese?
In recent years, the calculation of body mass index (BMI) has been increasingly used to assess weight and the presence of obesity in adults.
The ideal BMI is considered to be 19-24 kg/m for women and 19-25 kg/m for men. If the BMI calculation is less than 19 kg/m, this indicates a weight deficit, which often happens in young, very slender girls. Such a BMI in young men indicates that they are also very thin, but it is also an indicator that they do not do much sports and have poorly developed muscles, which is naturally bad for a healthy young man. And, on the contrary, men involved in power sports, weightlifting, wrestling have increased BMI indicators, but excess body weight is not associated with obesity, but with well-developed muscles.
In addition to calculations, it is also possible to accurately measure the amount of fat in the body using special devices. Usually, the indicator is taken as % of fat from total body weight.
One of the methods for assessing the amount of fat was developed by American doctors
R. Schmidt and G. Tews in 1895. To do this, using a tool called a caliper, the thickness of the skin folds in four anatomical areas of the body is measured. Then the obtained figures are processed and the % of fat in the body is obtained.
Another device for determining body fat with maximum accuracy determines the percentage and total amount of fat in the human body. Its operation is based on the principle of bioelectrical impedance analysis. This method analyzes the electrical resistance of tissues by passing an extremely small current through the body. Since adipose tissue has an electrical conductivity close to zero, it is not difficult to determine the ratio between adipose and other tissues.
Having determined the amount of fat in the body or having calculated the BMI, you can use the tables and determine whether you are obese.
Assessment of obesity by the percentage of adipose tissue in the body
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man
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woman
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<10%
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<20%
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thin
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10-20%
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20-30%
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normal
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20-25%
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30-35%
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moderate degree of fatness
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25-30%
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35-40%
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thick
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>30%
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>40%
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very thick
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Definition of obesity and its severity
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Body mass index, kg/m
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man
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woman
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19
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19
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norm
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26
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25
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overweight
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30
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30
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Grade I obesity
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35
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35
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Grade II obesity
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40 and over
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40 and over
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Grade III obesity
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