Major Facts about Obesity it’s Complication and Medication

Nutrition and Diet

Bilal Haider
June 2, 2025
No Comments

Obesity is overtaking smoking as it is considered as one of largest global public health threat. Obesity a complex disease, with no one-size-fits-all treatment. It is also called as mother of all the diseases as the fatter you are the higher the risk of your health.

It effect directly or indirectly to your body system. It not only effect your body but also your self esteem and mental health .It is a greater health epidemic right now .A lots of people don’t know the consequences of this disease.

It’s a complex issue that go beyond individual choices and environmental factors. People must have further implications to get rid of it Understanding it’s causes ,effects and solution may help to address this pressing issue

What is obesity?

Obesity means having too much fat that cause health problems. A BMI (Body mass index) of 30 or higher is the usual benchmark for obesity in adults according to World Health Organization. It increase the risk of serious medical conditions.

Changing what you eat ,adding creativity and mental health lessen the risk of this disease. It’s a long -term ,complex disease. It can affect your overall health and quality of life .Obesity is a chronic disease defined by excessive fat deposits that can impair health.

It lead to the type 2 diabetes, several heart diseases one way .On the other hand, it can affect the bone health and reproduction. Obesity influence living quality such as sleeping and moving.

Obesity types on different basis:

Obesity have different types on the basis of BMI range ,area of fat and size or numbers of fat cells.

Types of Obesity (BMI Range)

Doctors measure Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine the types of obesity. In order to determine type of obesity doctors measure Body Mass Index.

Optimal weight = BMI 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2

Overweight = BMI 25 to 29.9 kg/m2

Obese = BMI 30 kg/m2 and above

Obesity may be of three types based on BMI:

Class 1 Obesity = BMI 30 to 35 kg/m2

Class 2 Obesity = BMI 35 to 40 kg/m2

Class 3 Obesity = BMI 40 kg/m2 and above

Class 3 obesity is also known as morbid or severe obesity.

Types Based on area of fat:

Obesity divided into two types based on fat distribution:

Peripheral obesity :Accumulation of excessive fat in hips ,thighs and buttocks are. Its a pear shape obesity

Central obesity:Accumulation of excessive around abdomen. It increase other risks like diabetes, high blood pressure and some cancer.

Types on the basis of fat cells size :

On the basis of characteristic of fat cells obesity can be hypertrophic and hyperplastic obesity.

Hypertrophic Obesity:Due to increase in the size of adipose cells, this type of obesity occur. It usually occur in adults.

Hyperplastic Obesity:This is due to increase in the number of fat cells. This is predominant type common among children.

Credit: Healthgrade

Worldwide obesity Rate:

Worldwide obesity rate according to WHO show that adult is Overweight if have body mass index greater than or equal to 25 and considered as obese if body mass index is greater than or equal to 30. In 2020 ,around 20 percent of world population aged 20 years were obese and overweight.

By the year 2035,this figure increase to reach 46 percent. Obesity global economic impact is predicted to increase from 1.96 in 2020 to 4.32 trillion U.S dollars in 2035. For example,31 different countries found that obesity was ranked fourth beyond mental health, cancer and other disease.

What are most obese countries?

Obesity and overweight are global issues but their rates differ from country to country. Tonga,Samoa,and Kuwait have highest share of obese and overweight women. Share with men include the countries like Tonga,Samoa,and United State. Approximately 87percent of women and 80 percent men are obese on South Pacific island of Tonga.

Is rate of Obesity among children and adolescents same?

The problem of obesity in children is as alarming as in adolescents. While child have a greater risk of being obese in adulthood or experiencing disability or premature death as adultsAround 10 percent of boys and eight percent of girls aged 5-19 years were considered as obese.

Although boys are more likely to obese than girls. But by 2035 Western world predicted around 41 percent of boys as obese. The simplest ways for avoid becoming obese is possible only by eating balance diet and through physical exercise.

Credit: Statista

How do we know if we’re obese?

The diagnosis of overweight and obesity is done by measuring weight and height of people. It can also be done by calculating body mass index (BMI): weight (kg)/height(m²). BMI is a marker of fatness and additional measurements that can help for diagnosis of obesity.

For defining obesity the range vary by age ,gender and infants and adolescents. For adults overweight is a BMI grater than or equal to 25-29. Whereas obesity is a BMI grater than or equal to 30.

But for children age must be considered when you are defining obesity and overweight. BMI is common tool but not perfect so, other factors like waist circumference and overall health is important.

Is Overweight and obesity same?

Over weight is a weight for height greater than 2 standard deviations above (child growth standard median). On the other hand obesity is weight for height greater than 3 standard deviations above. So, overweight and obesity are not same conditions though, they are related. Both of them describes excessive weight. But they are different in degree of weight gain and health risk associated with them. Obesity is associated with higher risk of health issues due to greater amount of body fat.

Is obesity have any link with brain?

Is obesity have any connection to brain ? The answer is “yes”. Obesity in real sense a disease that can be rooted in brain . when people become obese, they thought it’s simply due to overeating, being too lazy. But the truth is far more complicated than that. When you gain weight your nerves ,that carry signal to your brain from fat cells become damaged and major white matter destroyed.

As a result, your brain doesn’t realize that you are full and you keep on eating. Once you have become obese, production of hormones such as insulin increase fat storage. So, it is not someone fault but there is something physical going on that make it difficult for someone to lose weight.

Credit: Shutterstock

Is obesity genetic?

A growing body suggest that obesity may be genetic. Around 200 to 500 specific genes have been linked to the disease. As we know that genes can influence the factors like person body capacity to store fat,metabolism,and feeling of fullness. Though obesity may be genetic but other environmental factors also contribute to this disease.

Genetic causes of obesity include Polygenic and Monogenic and other syndromic causes. Genetic causes of obesity are polygenic in one way but can also be Monogenic. They cause mutations in single gene and group of gene. Obesity has a genetic component. As genes can influence how your body store and burns fat regulate metabolic activities and appetite. It also include how your body respond to physical activity and diet.

Hundreds of gene are linked with obesity but the most well known is FTO(fat mass obesity associated gene). People having this version more likely to gain weight. So,the risk of child being obese also depends upon the parents obesity significantly. But this reflect both genetic and shared environment. Genetic set the stage but environment pulls the trigger.

What causes Obesity?

The cause of obesity includes when you consume more calories than your body need. Why you consume more than your body need many things contribute to it.

Metabolic change:

Metabolism means how your body converts calories into energy. When your body consume more calories than it’s need, it converts extra calories to lipids. When you go out of tissues to store lipids ,fat cells become enlarged. Enlarged fat cells secrete hormones cause inflammation.

Certain Medication:

Medications you take to treat other issue may cause weight gain. For instance anti depressant, steroid and diabetes medication cause people to become overweight.

Lack of physical activities:

Increased screen time like watching TV, playing games and spend more time on laptops and phone can reduce the time for physical activities. So, lack of physical activities may cause storage of lipids in fat cells because extra calories would not be converted into energy for body use.

Unhealthy food:

Unhealthy food often contain high calories, added sugar and unhealthy fats which can lead to overconsumption of calories. These food have low nutrient content, highly processed and lack of fiber. Unhealthy food making it harder to feel full and leading to overeating What are obesity hidden dangers?

Credit: Pinterest

What are obesity hidden dangers?

We know that obesity cause fat cells enlargement that increase the hormone secretion cause inflammation. Inflammation cause the insulin resistance. So, your body does not use insulin to lower your body fat and sugar. As a result high level of sugar and blood pressure cause hidden dangers for health. Metabolic syndrome are common diseases caused by obesity. It increases the risk of overweight.

Cardiovascular Diseases:

Obesity increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases. These include heart attack, coronary artery blockage, congestive heart failure and stroke. Obesity cause the narrowing of arteries or veins leading to blockage of blood.

Fatty liver Disease:

Circulating excessive fat in your body makes it way to your liver .As your liver is responsible for filtering blood. So,your liver begin storing excess fat that can lead to liver inflammation (hepatitis) and liver may be long term damaged.

Kidney Disease:

Excessive fat, sugar due to obesity causes high blood pressure level and diabetes, liver disease. These are most common contributors to chronic kidney disease. Having obesity specifically raises the risk of type 2 diabetes. Statistically, obesity increases the risk of premature death from all causes.

Muscle stiffness:

Obesity contribute to muscle stiffness because excessive fat puts too much stress on muscle and joints which cause fatigue and stiffness. It limitize the mobility and flexibility so, that muscle become less flexible and stiffer.

Body posture can be affected by excessive weight, which leads to muscle imbalance. The fat stress and strain areas include hips, knees and lower back.

Direct effects:

Excess body fat puts stress on your musculoskeletal system and can crowd the organs of your respiratory system. This contributed to:

Arthritis.
Asthma.
Back pain.
Depression and mood disorders.
Female infertility and pregnancy complications.
Issues with memory and cognition, including a heightened risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Dimentia.

How do healthcare providers diagnose obesity?

Healthcare provider will measure your weight, height and waist circumference.
Through body composition tests like a bone density test scan or a bioelectrical impedance analysis.
This test measures body composition on the basis of rate at which an electrical current passes through your body.
Your history of medical conditions and previous treatments including medications.
They may ask about your biological family’s health, your weight history.

What treatment do you need?

Obesity is easier to prevent than treat. Once you gain weight, your body show resistance to weight lose. For instance, when you go on a diet, burn less energy than before and feel hungrier. Doctors treat obesity by helping you to change certain habits :

Eat healthier foods that keep your body fit and smart (high in fiber, low in sugar)
Put smaller portions on your plate so you’re not tempted to eat as much
Eliminate high-calorie drinks, such as soda, juice, or alcohol
Exercise more and be more active(Use stairs instead of the elevator, or walk instead of driving or taking the bus).

Medications:

Weight loss Surgery: If you have class III obesity, bariatric surgery may be a better chance for you. Bariatric surgery works by changing your digestive system – usually your stomach, and sometimes also your small intestine regulate how many calories you can consume and absorb. It cause the reduction of hunger signals that travel from your digestive system to your brain.

Banding the stomach

Gastric bypass

What preventions needed to overcome obesity?

Healthy eating
Use strategies to lose fat
portion control( eat smaller, frequent meal)
Stay hydrated
Manage stress
Monitor progress
Seek professional help

What Diet and Nutrients:

Many diet plans claims to make weight loss. But it can be difficult to know if they are true or not. Some plans are safe and effective but other are not. The best results often come from combining a sustainable balance diet for effortless weight management.

Diet priorities include:

Fruits
Vegetables
Lean proteins
Whole grains
Healthy fats

Credit: Instagram

But people with overweight may minimize:

Added sugars
Refined grains.
Trans fats
Ultra-processed foods

However it’s always not possible to know how effective a diet will be for losing weight.

How can a person with obesity start exercising?

Exercise gradually improve your health. However every body needs are different related to their intentions. People new to lose weight and gain muscle should consult to a doctor. But it is advisable to start slowly.

Adapt movement:

In start a person should not try intense exercises instead only adapt movement to level their fitness. For instance, walking slowly is more easier than walking uphill or jogging. These adaptation help to challenge themselves as they build fitness.

Consider lower-impact exercises:

People with joint pain may try exercises that put less stress on their body such as water aerobics, yoga etc.

Consider physical therapy:

If someone is dealing with chronic pain and has not exercise for a long time, he must give attention to physical therapist. It can help to reduce fat and try forms of exercises that are simple. These include:

Trunk rotations:

Sit or stand with your arms out to the sides. Rotate the trunk and arms side to side, moving only the upper body.

Sit-to-stand:

Sit toward the edge of a firm chair with no armrests. Breathe in while standing up, then stand for another breath. On the next exhale, sit slowly back down.

Arm circles:

Sitting or standing, hold the arms out to the sides. Keeping the arms straight, move the hands in circles, which can range from big to small.

Arm raises:

While sitting or standing, slowly raise the arms straight in front of the body, then down. People can also lift them out to the sides or over the head.

Marching or stepping:

March in place, try a brisk walk outside, or step up and down on a low stool.