Obesity is an accumulation of fat in the body which leads to the appearance of overweight. This fat is stored in the fat depots of the body – in subcutaneous adipose tissue in and around the internal organs of human body. Modern science explains the emergence of obesity as follows: if the energy coming into the body with food is more than is consumed by the body, such energy which is in excess is converted into fat.
In developed societies, the main causes of obesity are overeating and a sedentary lifestyle. To put on extra weight is rather easy, but to get rid of body fat and overeating habits is not so easy. Some people start to eat more in stressful situations (Slightham, “Obesity”). Others try to overcome bad mood, depression and loneliness through eating a lot. Someone unwittingly eats huge amount of products comfortably sitting in front of TV. Someone sneaks to the fridge at night. Sometimes, there are just foodies who love a tasty meal. If a person spends most of the day on sedentary work, does not run marathons and does not sweat in the gym, sooner or later, his weight will exceed all reasonable limits. These instances pave way to obesity.
An important role in the development of obesity belongs to an age. Doctors believe that the older a person becomes, the greater the likelihood is that he will develop obesity. The blame for this is laid on the decrease in metabolism and appetite brain center disorders: to suppress hunger more food is needed when a person gets older (Slightham, “Obesity”).
Depending on the causes of obesity, a few forms of it are distinguished: alimentary, hypothalamic and endocrine. Alimentary obesity is the most common. Under this form, there occur increased appetite and habitual overeating which lead to the formation and the deposition of fat in adipose tissue. Obesity is often observed among patients of a relatively late age (over 40 years) and significantly more often among women than men (Apovian & Lenders 24). In these cases, the causes of overeating can be a family tradition, as well as the structure of malnutrition and abuse of high-calorie foods. Additionally, in some families, there is a tradition to eat a lot of high-calorie food, which leads to overfeeding of children (Apovian & Lenders 24).
Endocrine obesity is much less common and is associated with dysfunction of the endocrine glands (pancreas, thyroid, pituitary gland and gonads) (Apovian & Lenders 26). In these cases, a special inspection by endocrinologist is required. According to the type of fat distribution in the body, there are isolated upper, lower and mixed obesity. Under the first type, adipose tissue is deposited mainly in the upper part of the body, while, under lower type of obesity, fat accumulates mainly in the lower part of the body (Apovian & Lenders 26). The mixed type, relatively uniform distribution of subcutaneous fat occurs (Apovian & Lenders 26).
In the early stages of obesity, even when the body adapts to overweight well, all body organs and systems function normally. The appearance of the patient at the initial stage of obesity usually corresponds to the notion of "flourishingly healthy" individual (Slightham, “Obesity”). At the young age, fat men often have more energy than ordinary people. They are active, often characterized with kindness, humanity, complacency and cheerful disposition (Slightham, “Obesity”). Nevertheless, at the early stage of obesity, such symptoms as shortness of breath when walking, fatigue, increased sweating, habitual constipation and bloating can be observed.
At the II degree of obesity, weight in excess is 30-49% (Slightham, “Obesity”). Shortness of breath is more visible and occurs during normal movements. People at this stage of obesity have enlarged and swollen bellies, which creates a feeling of heaviness, especially after eating. At the III degree of obesity (excess weight reaches 99% of the normal), the person becomes seriously ill, with reduced capacity for work. Such patients are inactive, sluggish, often live isolated lives. Under grade IV, weight exceeds 100% (Slightham, “Obesity”). Such people require constant care and are totally disabled. They could hardly move and sometimes can even not leave their places of residence. Due to the sheer weight, such patients cannot travel by public transport, bath in the tub, go up the stairs to the upper floors. All these lead to their complete isolation from society.
With the increasing amount of adipose tissue in an organism, its destructive effects on many organ systems are enhanced. This often leads to serious complications that threaten the health and even the life of a person. It is known that obese patients are 3-4 times more likely to get sick with diabetes, twice more likely to suffer from diseases of the liver and cardiovascular system than under normal weight. Every obese person is a potential patient of a cardiologist. Obesity, in fact, is the cause of the increased mortality of people. Death from cardiovascular disease in obesity occurs twice as often than under normal and reduced food consumption (Hurt et al. “The Obesity Epidemic: Challenges, Health Initiatives, and Implications for Gastroenterologists”).
But the most formidable cardiovascular lesions are atherosclerotic changes in arterial blood vessels. The development of atherosclerosis is directly related to disorders of lipid metabolism – increase in blood cholesterol levels, as well as triglycerides and lipids. Arteriosclerosis leads to the development of such terrible diseases as myocardial infarction and hypertension. One in four obese people suffers from essential hypertension. Life expectancy in obesity in the elderly is reduced by approximately 12 years (Hurt et al. “The Obesity Epidemic: Challenges, Health Initiatives, and Implications for Gastroenterologists”). That is why it is safe to claim that reduction of body weight to normal is a healing effect on the entire body. As well as the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract under obesity operates under high compression, which is generated due to significant deposition of adipose tissue in the abdominal cavity (Hurt et al. “The Obesity Epidemic: Challenges, Health Initiatives, and Implications for Gastroenterologists”).
Works Cited
Apovian, C. and Carine M. Lenders. A Clinical Guide for Management of Overweight and Obese Children and Adults. CRC Press, 2010. Print.
Hurt, R., Kulisek, C., Buchanan, L. and Stephen A. McClave. “The Obesity Epidemic: Challenges, Health Initiatives, and Implications for Gastroenterologists”. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 6 Dec. 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.
Slightham, C. “Obesity”. healthline.com. 23 Mar. 2016. Web. 11 Apr. 2016.
