For the last 30 years obesity became one of the most widespread diseases in developed countries. Obesity is characterized by raising of body weight due to increasing of fat deposition. Obesity is classified on degrees (depending on amount of adipose tissue) and types (depending on risk factors and causes).
It is not a secret that obesity is a serious disease that needs to be treated. Overweight and obesity are considered the main causes of diabetes, heart and blood vessels diseases, diseases of the locomotor system. Overweight also affects the distribution of adipose tissue, its characteristics (softness, elasticity, the percentage of liquids), functional and structural condition of skin (dilation, enlarged pores, cellulitis). The disease is classified into the following degrees:
Central obesity is excess body fat around the abdomen and hips. Central obesity is considered the most dangerous form of obesity and is associated with an increased risk of heart diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes. Patients with central obesity are those whose ratio of waist measurement to hip exceed 0.9 for women and 1.0 for men.
Beer belly is the overgrowth of fat tissue only in the abdomen, other parts of the body have small amounts of fat tissue. However, it is not known exactly why people who drink regularly beer are predisposed to belly bell.
Pathological types of obesity are usually associated with violations of the human endocrine system and metabolic disorders.
Non-endocrine obesity may be associated with diseases of pancreas, liver, small and large intestine.
There are known some risk factors that may increase the chance for obesity development. They include:
- Sedentary life style
- Genetic factors: increased activity of enzymes of lipogenesis, decreased activity of lipolysis enzymes
- Increased intake of carbohydrates
- Diseases: insulinoma, hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, binge eating disorder
- Predisposition to stress
- Insomnia
- Depression and anxiety medication
Obesity is treated by increasing the burning of calories due to physical exercises and lowering of calories intake due to following low-calorie diets. In severe cases some medication such Xenical, Hoodia, Alli, Slim-fast and others are prescribed.
