Obesity and Overweight (continued): Causes, Risks and Treatments

THE RISKS OF OBESITY FOR HEALTH

Obesity  seriously degrades the quality of life of an adult and can have serious consequences for their health:

• an increased risk of cardiovascular disease

• a reduction in life expectancy

• an increased risk of suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure,  colon cancer  or of  breast cancer

In children and adolescents, overweight and obesity also have negative consequences:

• increased risk of breathing problems
• an increased risk of developing diabetes in adulthood
• high risk of fractures

 

• the development of insulin resistance

In both adults and children, overweight and  obesity  can also contribute to depression.

Treating overweight and  obesity  is therefore essential to preserve the health of those concerned.

TREATMENT OF OBESITY

LOSS OF WEIGHT THROUGH HEALTHY FOOD

This is the main way to fight overweight and obesity. The loss of weight must be done in a reasoned manner; a balanced diet and regular sports practice allow you to lose weight gradually without putting the person concerned in physical and psychological danger. It is advisable to have an adapted therapeutic follow-up.

THE TREATMENT OF OBESITY BY SURGERY

The  treatment of obesity  by surgery (or "bariatric" surgery) is aimed at adults suffering from "massive" (BMI greater than or equal to 40) or "severe" obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 35). ), combined with a disease.

These individuals must justify several unsuccessful attempts at weight loss and must not present medical contraindications.

There are two types of surgeries:

• restrictive  surgeries  that reduce the size of the stomach (gastric band, sleeve gastrectomy, calibrated vertical gastroplasty)
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• Restrictive  and " malabsorbative " surgeries  that reduce the size of the stomach and reduce the assimilation of food by the body ("bypass", bilio-pancreatic derivation).

TREATMENT OF OBESITY THROUGH MEDICINES

To date, there are no  miracle drug treatments for obesity . However, some medications can help with weight loss and limit the absorption of dietary fat by the body.

The effects of these medications vary from one individual to another and may not produce the expected results. In addition, their intake must be combined with a balanced diet .