Obesity is a chronic disease that is accompanied by several comorbidities and produces the release of inflammatory substances that significantly increase the risk of death in people who suffer from it. On World Obesity Day, Dr. Jesús Rocca, endocrinologist of our institution, provides us with valuable information with the aim of raising public awareness of this issue.

How do you know if a patient is obese?

Obesity is reflected in the increase of weight in relation to height and can be measured with the Body Mass Index (BMI). This is a simple indicator that shows the relationship between the two.

Formula for measuring BMI: Weight in kilograms/Height in meters squared.

Obesity can be said to exist when the BMI is above 30.

Why is it so detrimental to health to be obese or overweight?

• Since 1975, the cases of obesity in the world have tripled, according to the World Health Organization, being this increase an alert for the entire population, since obesity is a disorder that increases the risk of suffering a premature death due to the excess in the levels of body fat.
• Obesity significantly increases the risk of suffering from the following diseases:
• Type 2 diabetes mellitus
• Cardiovascular disease (such as myocardial infarction, stroke, among others).
• Fatty liver disease (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, steatohepatitis, or cirrhosis of the liver).
• Sleep apnea.
• Malignant neoplasms associated with insulin resistance.

How can it affect children?

• In the past, it was thought that an overweight child or baby was healthy. However, nowadays, it is known that the consequences of being overweight or obese can generate serious consequences and even more so if they are small, because, in addition to presenting health problems, they can have physical, social, and emotional complications that prevent them from developing normally in their environment.
• Therefore, prevention is very important even before the baby is born, while in the mother’s womb.

Remember:

• Obesity is a chronic disorder; therefore, there is no such thing as a healthy obese person. Every person with excess weight should be evaluated to rule out any metabolic alteration and subsequently correct it.
• Adopting healthy lifestyle habits, such as a balanced diet and regular exercise, is essential to prevent and address obesity.

Dr. Jesús Rocca
Endocrinologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma