Obesity | Overweight

All about Obesity

Obesity Introduction

Obesity is widely regarded as a pandemic, with potentially disastrous complication for human health

Increase Energy Intake
- Increase protein size
- Increase snacking
- Loss of regular meals
- Increase energy food (mainly fat)
- Increased affluence
Decreasing Energy Expenditure
- Increase car ownership
- Decrease walking
- Increase automation
- Decrease manual labour
- Decrease sports in school
- Increase time spent on computer
- Increase central heating
Endocrine Factors
- Hypothyroidism
- Cushing's Syndrome
- Insulinoma
- Hypothalamic tumors / injury
Medications
- Atypical antipsychotics (eg. Olanzapine)
- Sulphonylurease
- Thiazolidinediones
- Insulin
- Corticosteroids
- Sodium valproate
- Beta blockers

Associated with Diabetes and Hypertension
- Coronary heart disease
- Stroke
- Diabetes complications
Associated with Liver Fat Accumulation
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- Cirrhosis
Associated with Restricted Ventilation
- Exertional dyspnoea
- Obstructive sleep apnoea
- Obesity hypoventilation syndrome
Associated with Mechanical Effects of Weight
- Urinary incontinence
- Osteoarthritis
- Varicose veins
Associated with Increased Peripheral Steroid Interconversion in Adipose Tissue
- Hormone dependent cancers (breast, uterus)
- Polycyclic ovarian syndrome
- Infertility
- Hirsutism
Others
- Psychological morbidity (low self esteem, depression)
- Socioeconomic disadvantages (low income)
- Gallstones
- Colorectal cancer
- Skin infections (groin and submammary candidiasis)

Lifestyle Advice
- Regular eating pattern
- Maximising physical activity
- More walking
- Swimming
- Avoidance of snacking
- Regular meals
- Substitution of sweets with artificial sweeteners
Weight loss Diet
- Low calorie diet
- Vitamin supplementation
Drugs
- Orlistat
Surgery
- Bariatric Surgery
- Cosmetic Surgical Procedure
- Apronectomy: Removal of overhanging abdominal skin
Treatment of additional Risk Factors: eg. smoking, excess alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnoea, hyperlipidaemia