Overweight has always encouraged people to complexes about their appearance. It is known that the psychological aspect of this problem particularly affects women. In addition, being overweight often becomes the subject of ridicule from peers in children's groups. It is worth remembering that obesity is not just one of the constitutional features, but a rather serious problem. First, it affects the psycho-emotional state of a person. But this is not the worst. After all, there are more serious consequences of obesity. These include severe diseases of the heart, liver and other organs.
"Obesity" from a medical point of view
Overweight is quite common. Many people are prone to obesity. Others "gain" extra pounds throughout their lives. Often this is facilitated by endocrine pathologies, malnutrition, a passive lifestyle, etc. It should be understood that obesity is a disease that requires medical attention. Some people who are overweight do not want to admit this problem, referring to the fact that they are satisfiedwith your body. Indeed, not everyone suffers from an emotional background. However, even if a person feels comfortable, it is necessary to get rid of excess weight. After all, the negative consequences of obesity are the scourge of most patients. From a medical point of view, being overweight is considered an increase in body mass index (BMI). This indicator is calculated using a special formula: weight/height (meters2). Normal BMI is 18-25 kg/m2. If this figure is 25-30, then doctors draw the patient's attention to overweight. With a BMI of more than 30 kg/m2, a diagnosis of obesity is made. Depending on the body mass index, the severity of the pathology is distinguished. When this disease is detected, it is necessary to find out the causes, consequences of obesity, to assess the patient's awareness of the seriousness of such a diagnosis. The correct presentation of the problem will help set a person to fight overweight.
Internal organ damage in obesity
The consequences of obesity on the part of physical he alth are damage to internal organs. Due to excess weight, almost all functional systems suffer. Obesity is especially harmful to the heart and liver. With a long-term pathology, dystrophy of organs occurs, as a result of which they cease to function normally. In addition, excess weight can lead to the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. With a BMI of more than 40 kg/m2it is difficult for a person to perform not only any physical activity, but also everyday movements. Walkingeven for short distances leads to shortness of breath and increased heart rate. The consequences of obesity in women is also a disorder of reproductive function. Often overweight patients complain of menstrual irregularities, infertility. Also, the disease can contribute to the formation of stones in the gallbladder, the development of pancreatitis, osteoarthritis.
Fatty liver: consequences of pathology
One of the serious consequences of obesity is liver degeneration (steatohepatosis). This disease leads to a gradual disruption of the functioning of the organ. Despite the fact that the pathology is quite serious, it rarely has clinical manifestations. Steatohepatosis is a disease in which normal liver cells are replaced by adipose tissue. As a result, the body increases in size, its consistency becomes flabby. A damaged liver is not able to neutralize toxic substances entering the body. In addition, it does not perform other functions. These include: the formation of blood components, bile. As a result, the process of digestion of food is disturbed, hormonal changes occur, etc. Chronic liver failure gradually develops.
Obesity: psychological implications
Overweight is considered not only a physical but also a psychological problem. To a greater extent, because of obesity, women complex. Some of them begin to be ashamed of their own body, as a result, problems appear inpersonal life and behaviour. Due to the developed complexes, patients become suspicious, self-esteem suffers. It is believed that the consequences of obesity are apathy and depression. Similar problems can occur in both women and men.
The psychological consequences of obesity most affect childhood patients. Excess weight causes ridicule from others, as a result of which the emotional state of the child worsens. As a result, low self-esteem, self-doubt, depression, psychopathy are formed. Because of the desire to lose weight, teenagers go to extreme measures that can only aggravate the situation (the development of anorexia).
Visceral obesity: consequences of the disease
In most cases, middle-aged people have visceral obesity. It is characterized by an increase in the upper half of the body. Adipose tissue is especially pronounced in the abdomen, arms, face. With a high BMI and a waist circumference of more than 90 cm, a diagnosis of "metabolic syndrome" is made. This condition is not considered an independent disease. Nevertheless, it is a risk factor that provokes severe cardiovascular and endocrine pathologies. Metabolic syndrome leads to the development of the following diseases:
- Angina. This pathology is characterized by ischemic changes in the myocardium. Left untreated, it can lead to a heart attack and heart failure.
- Atherosclerosis is a pathology in whichfatty plaques accumulate in the inner walls of blood vessels. Leads to blockage of the arteries, resulting in organ ischemia.
- Type 2 diabetes. Occurs when blood glucose levels rise in people over 40 years of age. Diabetes mellitus aggravates the course of vascular pathologies, leads to progressive visual impairment, nephro- and neuropathies.
- Arterial hypertension. Despite the fact that the increase in blood pressure is not associated with obesity, the risk of developing this pathology in overweight people increases by more than 2 times.
Often, patients have a combination of these pathologies. It is worth noting that these diseases are one of the main causes of death in the population.
Severe complications of obesity
Severe consequences of obesity are complications of the listed diseases that can lead to disability and death. In addition to liver failure, these include the following conditions:
- Myocardial infarction. It is characterized by sudden onset of acute ischemia and necrosis of the heart muscle. It develops against the background of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries and unstable angina pectoris.
- Acute ischemic cerebrovascular accident. It occurs due to blockage of blood vessels by atherosclerotic plaques and thrombus.
- Acute heart failure. This group of pathologies includes pulmonary embolism, cardiogenic shock, and pulmonary edema. In most cases, these conditions are fatal.
- Deep vein thrombosis of the lower extremities. Is the cause of the development of gangrene.
The listed conditions are not directly related to obesity. However, being overweight increases the risk of developing them.
Obesity in children: causes and consequences
The etiological factors in the development of obesity in children include malnutrition, hormonal disorders (increased production of the hunger hormone - leptin), endocrine diseases, genetic predisposition to overweight. The sooner you find out the cause of the pathology, the lower the likelihood of complications. The consequences of childhood obesity are the same as in adults. But, given the early onset of the disease, dysfunction of the internal organs may appear faster.
Preventing the consequences of obesity in adults and children
The main preventive measure is weight loss. For this purpose, it is necessary to consult a dietitian and an endocrinologist. Excess weight is recommended to be reduced gradually. It is important to reduce the intake of fats and carbohydrates. In order to prevent cardiovascular diseases, special drugs are prescribed - statins and fibrates.
