Obesity is not only an aesthetic problem but also a global pandemic, the leading cause of dangerous diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer... However, weight control has not been properly recognized and intervened.
Medical news March 1: Understanding the dangers of obesity
Obesity is not only an aesthetic problem but also a global pandemic, the leading cause of dangerous diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer... However, weight control has not been properly recognized and intervened.
Obesity - the disease of the times
Although in the past, overweight and obesity mainly appeared in developed countries, now this rate is increasing rapidly in developing countries, including Vietnam.
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| Obesity is the result of an energy imbalance, in which the body takes in too much excess energy. |
Currently, Vietnam ranks 197th in the world in terms of overweight and obesity. However, this rate is increasing rapidly, from 3% to 15%, making Vietnam one of the countries with the fastest growing obesity rate. If calculated by waist-hip ratio, up to half of the adult population in Vietnam is currently overweight and obese.
Obesity is the result of an energy imbalance, in which the body takes in too much excess energy. The increase in energy intake from 2,000 calories to 3,500 calories/day has led to an increase in obesity rates, which is particularly evident in Asian and Southeast Asian countries.
Obesity is not simply the accumulation of excess fat, but is also related to inflammatory factors, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and many other dangerous diseases.
According to doctors, the body's energy regulation mechanism controls appetite through peptides and emotions (eating because of hunger, eating for pleasure...).
Obesity is the cause of more than 200 different diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis, fatty liver and some cancers, especially gastrointestinal cancers.
At the recent scientific seminar "Multimodal treatment of obesity", Dr. Lam Van Hoang, a weight loss expert, shared about the current state of obesity and related diseases.
According to Dr. Hoang, obesity was not recognized as a disease in the past. It was not until 1990 that the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognized obesity as a chronic disease. In 1997, when the rate of obese and overweight people tripled compared to 1975, WHO recognized obesity as a global pandemic.
According to the International Obesity Federation, obesity rates worldwide have tripled from 1975 to 2022. It is predicted that by 2035, up to 51% of the world's population (more than 4 billion people) will be obese or overweight if no timely intervention is taken. This means that 1 in 4 people will have this disease. Each year, it is estimated that more than 3.4 million adults die due to being overweight or obese.
Obesity is becoming a risk factor for death like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, etc., Dr. Hoang emphasized.
To effectively treat obesity, it is necessary to consider factors such as the age of onset of overweight, weight progression, work, lifestyle habits, and related diseases such as endocrine, cardiovascular, and genetic factors. Obesity treatment is not just about weight loss alone, but also requires simultaneous treatment of underlying diseases and complications caused by obesity to improve overall health.
Obesity treatment methods need to be multi-modal, comprehensive and individualized, suitable for each patient's physical condition and habits. It can combine the use of drugs, changes in diet, increased exercise, high-tech fat reduction, and even surgical interventions such as gastric bypass or gastric balloon placement in some special cases.
Effective treatment of obesity, losing 5% to 15% of weight in about 6 months has been proven to be beneficial for health, reducing the risk of complications due to overweight and obesity, while also repelling co-morbidities.
More than 50% of hemorrhoid cases when examined have serious complications, such as thrombosis, abscess, necrosis... This makes treatment difficult and seriously affects the health and quality of life of the patient.
Get into trouble because of the habit of delaying medical examination
Statistics from the health sector show that the number of severe hemorrhoid complications is increasing, especially after long holidays. The main causes are unscientific diets (drinking little water, eating little fiber), the habit of sitting for long periods, consuming a lot of alcohol and spicy foods.
Hemorrhoids are the most common anorectal disease. According to the Vietnam Association of Anorectal Surgery, this disease accounts for about 35-50% of colorectal diseases.
At some medical facilities, the number of hemorrhoid patients increased sharply in the first two months of 2025, an estimated 20% increase over the same period last year. Many cases of hemorrhoids became severe because patients were subjective and afraid to go to the doctor early.
A typical case is that of Mr. Hoang (38 years old, Ho Chi Minh City), who came to the hospital because of severe anal pain when defecating, accompanied by bleeding and ulcers. He said that a year ago he had similar symptoms but did not go to the doctor and just supplemented fiber through his diet.
After the Tet holiday, due to frequent alcohol parties, his illness became more serious. Endoscopy results showed that he had a large thrombosed hemorrhoid, and the doctor recommended surgery to prevent ulcers, necrosis and other serious complications.
Similarly, Ms. Hien (30 years old, Tien Giang) has had mixed hemorrhoids since giving birth to her first child 4 years ago, but did not receive treatment. When preparing for her second pregnancy, the doctor advised surgery to treat hemorrhoids before giving birth to avoid complications affecting the mother and fetus. However, Ms. Hien was afraid of surgery and did not undergo treatment.
If hemorrhoids are not treated promptly, they can cause dangerous complications such as hemorrhoidal thrombosis, anal prolapse, hemorrhoidal infection, anemia, and sepsis. These complications are not only painful, but also seriously affect the quality of life and can even threaten the patient's life. At this time, surgery is a necessary treatment method.
Surgical methods for treating hemorrhoids include conventional hemorrhoidectomy, Longo procedure, Doppler-guided hemorrhoidectomy (THD), and submucosal hemorrhoidectomy (Parks procedure).
In Mr. Hoang’s case, the doctor performed a classic hemorrhoidectomy (open hemorrhoidectomy) under spinal anesthesia. After the surgery, he no longer felt any pain and was discharged the same day.
As for Ms. Hien, because she was 7 months pregnant and the hemorrhoids had prolapsed and become blocked, she had to undergo emergency surgery. The doctor removed the blood clot and performed the Longo surgery, a method that is less painful and has fewer complications, suitable for pregnant women. The surgery was successful and both mother and child were safe.
Hemorrhoids are most common in people aged 30-60, with women having a higher incidence than men (61%). People susceptible to the disease include people who sit a lot and have little physical activity, such as office workers, drivers, and pregnant women.
Hemorrhoids are caused by excessive dilation of the hemorrhoidal venous plexus. Hemorrhoids are divided into three types: internal hemorrhoids (hemorrhoids located inside the anal canal), external hemorrhoids (located outside the anus), and mixed hemorrhoids (including both internal and external hemorrhoids).
Doctors recommend that people should see a doctor immediately when experiencing uncomfortable symptoms in the anal area for timely advice and treatment.
If mild, the disease can be treated simply with painless procedures with quick recovery such as endoscopic sclerotherapy, rubber band ligation, infrared photocoagulation (HCPT), or laser burning. Absolutely do not self-treat at home, especially for pregnant women, because it can lead to life-threatening complications.
Warning about the dangers of buying weight loss injection pens online
Weight loss injection pens, widely advertised on social networks, are becoming a “miracle drug” for overweight and obese people who want to lose weight without dieting or exercising. However, the use of these products can pose many serious health risks.
Ms. TV (37 years old, weighing 85 kg) spent more than 30 million VND to buy 8 weight loss injection pens from a sales account on social networks. These injection pens had packaging printed entirely in foreign languages, and Ms. V. used them according to the seller's instructions. "The seller said that I only need to inject once a week, without having to diet or exercise. After using all 8 pens in 5 months, I will lose 15 kg," Ms. V. shared.
After using the first injection pen, Ms. V. lost nearly 2 kg. However, when using the third injection pen, she began to feel nauseous, had a headache, felt dizzy, and her body was always tired and queasy. When she stopped injecting, she gained more than 4 kg and had acne all over her body. Ms. V. came to the hospital with pale skin, sweating, fatigue, and feeling like she was about to faint.
The examination results showed that her heart rate was fast and irregular, possibly due to medication and an inappropriate diet causing hypoglycemia. The doctor warned that the quality and nature of the drugs in the pens were not fully verified, which could cause health problems such as hypoglycemia and arrhythmia.
Similarly, Ms. MT (42 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) also believed in the seller's advertisement and bought 2 injection pens for nearly 5 million VND. After two injections, she continuously felt nauseous, had headaches and was tired. Test results showed that her liver enzymes had abnormal indexes.
According to Dr. Lam Van Hoang, Director of Tam Anh Weight Loss Center, there are currently many types of weight loss drugs on the market of unknown origin and quality, some of which are even banned or restricted by the World Health Organization due to containing dangerous ingredients. These drugs can affect liver and kidney function and cause complications such as increased liver enzymes, hepatitis, diarrhea, dermatitis, kidney failure, etc.
Weight loss injection pens usually contain drugs that act on the brain, helping to reduce appetite, increase feelings of fullness and slow down the emptying of the stomach, thereby helping to lose weight. However, long-term and improper use of these drugs can cause serious problems such as acute pancreatitis, gallstones, thyroid-related diseases or cardiovascular and digestive complications.
On social networking sites and online shopping websites, weight loss injection pens are widely sold, accompanied by advertisements about the effect of rapid weight loss without dieting or exercising. These products have a compact design and are often introduced as hand-carried goods, making it difficult to determine the origin and quality.
Obesity is a chronic disease that needs to be monitored and treated according to a regimen, not a normal health problem. Dr. Hoang warns that buying products online without knowing the origin is extremely dangerous. These products can be fake, poor quality, contain unsafe ingredients, causing the risk of allergies, anaphylactic shock and many other complications.
Each person with obesity has different causes and health conditions, so they need to be tested and diagnosed properly to have a personalized treatment regimen. Using weight loss drugs without medical supervision can cause many dangerous side effects, such as infections or other serious problems.
Dr. Hoang emphasized that all obesity medications require a doctor's prescription, because obesity can be caused by many different factors. Using weight loss medications without a prescription can be harmful to your health. Obesity treatment is a long-term process that requires a combination of nutrition, exercise, and appropriate medication. Patients need to see a doctor, undergo clinical tests, and have a scientific treatment method for sustainable and effective weight loss.
Source: https://baodautu.vn/tin-moi-y-te-ngay-13-hieu-dung-ve-muc-do-nguy-hiem-cua-benh-beo-phi-d249985.html
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