Many obese people are discriminated against, live with low self-esteem, and are isolated because they are thought to be obese because they eat too much; meanwhile, obesity is a chronic disease that requires correct awareness and timely treatment.
Dr. Lam Van Hoang, Director of the Center for Weight Control and Obesity Treatment, Tam Anh General Hospital system, General Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Diabetes and Endocrinology Association, warned that obesity is a chronic, recurring and progressive disease; is the gateway to many diseases, threatening the health of patients.
Dr. Hoang cited a study showing that obesity with a BMI of more than 30 kg/m2 causes many dangerous complications, such as knee arthritis (52%), high blood pressure (51%), sleep apnea (40%), gastroesophageal reflux (35%), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (29%), stroke (3%), diabetes and myocardial infarction together (21%), cancer risk... These patients need timely medical care and treatment.
“However, many people do not understand obesity correctly, do not know that it is a disease, and only go to the doctor when complications arise. Patients need to have a correct understanding of obesity, instead of just considering it a risk factor for many other diseases or thinking that obesity is caused by overeating and lack of exercise,” Dr. Hoang warned.
Because of not understanding correctly, many people have prejudices and discriminate against overweight and obese people. Overweight and obese people live with low self-esteem, are withdrawn, have difficulty integrating into the community, have difficulty accepting themselves, are ashamed of their appearance, and are stuck in life.
“Depression and anxiety disorders are complications of obesity. It is necessary to have a correct understanding of the disease in order to treat it promptly and eliminate prejudice and discrimination against obese people. That is humane,” Dr. Hoang emphasized.
People with obesity have a 55% increased risk of depression over time, and people with depression also have a 58% increased risk of obesity, according to the International Federation of Bariatric Surgery (IFSO).
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that mental health disorders are also one of the factors that need to be assessed in obese patients.
The Royal College of Physicians UK says it is vital for national health to remove the stigma associated with obesity.
This is not due to the uncontrolled overeating lifestyle of the person but due to metabolic disorders, genetic influences and social environmental factors such as little time to exercise...
Obesity is the abnormal and excessive accumulation of fat in a body area or the whole body. According to WHO, for Asians, a BMI of 23 or higher is overweight, a BMI of 25 or higher is obese. BMI is calculated by dividing weight by height squared.
“Waist circumference is also an important indicator to help screen for the risk of overweight and obesity; it is also a sign of excess visceral fat. For Asians, this risk increases when the waist circumference is over 80 cm in women and over 90 cm in men,” said Dr. Hoang.
Obesity was not recognized as a disease until 1990 when the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognized obesity as a chronic disease. In 1997, when the rate of obese and overweight people had tripled compared to 1975, the WHO officially recognized obesity as a global epidemic.
The American Medical Association also recognizes obesity as a chronic disease requiring long-term management and treatment. The World Obesity Federation (WOF) emphasizes the need for immediate action to prevent and control this global epidemic.
According to the International Obesity Federation, obesity rates worldwide have tripled from 1975 to 2022. Nearly 3 billion people are overweight or obese, of which 1 billion are living with obesity - that's 1 in 7 people.
This number is predicted to increase, by 2035 51% of the world, equivalent to more than 4 billion people, will be obese or overweight if no timely intervention is taken; meaning 1 in 4 people will be overweight or obese.
The number of obese people in Vietnam is growing at the fastest rate among Southeast Asian countries, at 38%; while the obesity rate in other countries in the region is 10%-20%.
In Ho Chi Minh City alone, overweight and obesity continue to increase in all ages. The rate of overweight and obesity in children under 5 years old increased from 11.1% (in 2017) to 13.6% (in 2022), while the national rate is 11.1%; in adults, it is more than 37%, while the national rate is only 20%.
According to statistics from Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, the rate of overweight and obese people accounts for about 56%-57% of the total number of patients visiting the hospital in the past year.
The rate of overweight and obese people is increasing, but the rate of treatment is still very limited. At the same time, Dr. Hoang cited data from Yale University of Medicine (USA) in 2016, for patients with type 2 diabetes, the treatment rate was 86%; however, the treatment rate for overweight and obese people was only 2%, while up to 46% of Americans are overweight and obese.
According to Dr. Hoang, the need for treatment is always high but there is no professional medical unit to care for and treat overweight and obese people.
Many overweight and obese people apply unorthodox weight loss methods that are not scientifically proven, causing a lot of pain and even physical and mental loss to the patient. Therefore, a specialized and comprehensive center is needed to screen and treat overweight and obese people according to the Ministry of Health's protocol.
The Ministry of Health has now issued guidelines and documents for the treatment of obesity. Accordingly, doctors treat obesity using a step-by-step, multi-modal and individualized approach. Patients are assessed and treated according to the doctor's instructions while making comprehensive lifestyle changes, from diet to exercise.
According to Dr. Hoang, there are many factors that cause obesity such as genetics, gender, lifestyle, mental health, age, and ethnicity. Among them, factors that cannot be changed include old age, genetics, and endocrine disorders; factors that can be changed include lack of exercise, diet, smoking, and medication use.
Genetics play a major role in obesity. Studies estimate that genetics account for about 40%-70% of a person's risk of obesity.
Genetics are involved in the systems that control appetite and energy expenditure, metabolism, and fat storage. For example, the ADRB3 gene reduces the ability to burn fat and increases fat storage, contributing to obesity.
“Treating obesity is a societal responsibility, not an individual one. Like other non-communicable diseases, obesity can be prevented and controlled,” said Dr. Hoang.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/beo-phi-gay-benh-khop-tieu-duong-dot-quy-d226057.html
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