Obesity, will it be the world’s deadliest killer?

Disease of Obesity

“Weight that is higher than what is considered as a healthy weight for a given height is described as overweight or obese.” – CDC

A few metabolic cues that help control food intake and energy expenditure are altered causing an increase risk of obesity.  An expression of two neurons AgRP and POMC have altered these two important contributors to a healthy lifestyle. POMC neuron, if inhibited, allows AgRP to accumulate and increase food intake and decrease energy expenditure.  The complexity of obesity is still hard to combat and help find the most effective treatment.

Defined by various classes:

Class 1 obesity: BMI 30-34

Class 2 obesity: BMI 35-39

Class 3 obesity: BMI 40 or higher

Correlation to other Diseases

Type 2 diabetes mellitus: Insulin resistance is a positive correlation to visceral fat accumulation that is a risk factor to Type 2 diabetes. According to a research article by Kyrou et al., “(T2DM) comprises up to 90% of all diagnosed diabetic cases in adults and is typically associated with presence of various degrees of obesity.”

Cardiovascular disease: Multiple environmental factors can play a role but hypertension and dyslipidemia (Elevated cholesterol/fats found in the blood. An increased risk of clogged arteries thus then lead to heart attacks, strokes, etc. ) contribute to CVD. The “Metabolic Syndrome,” a cluster of medical conditions, has been shown to have a 2-fold increase of CVD outcomes.

Cancer:  Increase adiposity is a risk factor for cancer. Sufficient evidence has been gathered to form a consistent relationship between obesity and cancer of esophagus,  gastric cardia, colon and rectum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, breast, ovary, kidney, thyroid, and many more. 

Other problems such as respiratory and musculoskeletal disorders, sub-fertility, psychosocial problems, and liver dysfunction are linked to obesity.

Discouraging Statistics

Globally: Obesity has tripled since 1975.

11% of men and 15% of women are obese while 39% of men and 40% of women are still overweight.

41 million children under 5 are overweight. 340 million children 4-19 are overweight or obese.

Countries with the highest prevalence of obesity:

Naura – 61%        Cook Islands – 55.9%             Palau – 55.3%

States with the highest rates of obesity:

West Virginia – 37.7%       Mississippi – 37.3%         Alabama – 35.7%

The cost of obesity in the United States in cost 147-210 billion dollars annually.  It costs individuals with obesity missing days of work, an increase of healthcare cost, and decrease of life span.

Treatments  

According to the Mayo Clinic, the best way to treat obesity is a life style change. Many weight-loss mediations and weight-loss surgeries work temporarily but soon many patients regain the weight. For a more effective treatment there is need for dietary changes, exercise/activity, and behavioral changes.

Dietary changes can range from a single change to multiple changes of reduction of calorie intake, eating healthier foods, and restricting foods. A reduction to 1200-1600 calorie intake of healthier foods is encouraged. Restriction on foods should be placed on high calorie, saturated fat, and sugar foods.

It is recommended 150-300 minutes a week of exercise depending on how much weight is wanting to be lost. A slow gradual increase of endurance and fitness is the safest way to start to exercise. Getting extra steps by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking to work instead of driving, and parking further away from the entrance doors are just a few ways to increase activity.

Behavioral changes include counseling and support groups.  Learning the triggers of eating and avoiding them are the first step to reduce the temptation. Another way counseling may help is by monitoring the diet and activity as well as dealing with mental impacts. Many mental illness may cause a person to over-eat to help them to cope. Support groups are another way to help understand and be able to talk about the challenges that many face without being judged.

Obesity is an epidemic that is currently defined as a preventable disease. If this disease is as preventable as believed, there is a need for a country and global step towards helping and reducing the main contributors. An encouraging community, an introduction of  healthier life styles, and changes in food school policies are a few ways to help change the direction of the obesity epidemic.

References:

https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK278973/

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/symptoms-causes/syc-20375742

https://www.stateofobesity.org