Mechanisms by which obesity induces diabetes, constipation, and lower back and leg pain

Obesity can easily lead to diabetes

Obesity and diabetes are both metabolic diseases, and they are like inseparable brothers. Many diabetic patients are obese, and many obese people develop diabetes. Data shows that the incidence of diabetes in obese patients is approximately four times that of people of normal weight. Among non-insulin-dependent diabetes patients over 40 years of age, 70% to 80% had a history of obesity before the onset of the disease, and the greater the degree of obesity or overweight, the higher the incidence of diabetes. Statistics show that the incidence of diabetes in the normal population is 0.7%; in those who are 20% overweight, the incidence is 2%; and in those who are 50% overweight, the incidence is as high as 10%.

Diabetes is divided into two types: insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Type 1) and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Type 2), which accounts for about 90% of all diabetes cases. Diabetes is primarily a metabolic disorder. Because a large amount of unused glucose is excreted in the urine, clinical manifestations include polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia, weight loss, and fatigue. In severe cases, ketoacidosis can occur, endangering life. Furthermore, diabetic patients are prone to complications such as arteriosclerosis, neuritis, and cataracts, and are also susceptible to infections like boils and carbuncles, or tuberculosis.

The direct cause of diabetes is that insulin secretion cannot meet the needs of tissues. Insulin is an endocrine substance secreted by the pancreas. Its main function is to accelerate the utilization of glucose, that is, to promote the conversion of glucose into glycogen and fat and to promote the oxidation of glucose to release heat energy, while inhibiting the production of glucose. It is an indispensable substance for glucose metabolism.

Diabetic patients suffer from impaired glucose metabolism due to reduced insulin secretion or other neurological and endocrine dysfunctions. As a result, the body's utilization of glucose decreases, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. Unused glucose is excreted in the urine, hence the name "diabetes".

Why are obese patients prone to diabetes? Because the cells of obese individuals, especially fat cells, are less sensitive to insulin. Initially, to meet metabolic needs, the pancreas secretes 5 to 10 times more insulin than normal. This, in turn, promotes increased fat synthesis, leading to further obesity. Obesity, in turn, increases the burden on pancreatic cells, eventually causing pancreatic cell fatigue. This results in incomplete pancreatic function, a relative or absolute deficiency in insulin secretion, and the inability to properly utilize and convert glucose, leading to abnormally high blood sugar. Although many medications can improve symptoms of diabetes, there is currently no cure.

Therefore, obese individuals who experience excessive thirst, frequent urination, or increased appetite should promptly seek medical attention to prevent delays in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes.

The relationship between obesity and constipation

There are many factors that can cause constipation, such as atrophy and degeneration of digestive glands, reduced secretion function, insufficient exercise, overly refined diet, irregular bowel habits, and insufficient water intake. All of these can reduce the intestinal muscle contraction ability and cause abdominal muscle relaxation and weakness, leading to constipation.

However, obesity is also a significant factor contributing to constipation. In obese individuals, fat accumulation is primarily in the subcutaneous tissue and mesentery. Excessive fat deposition in the mesentery weakens intestinal peristalsis, making it difficult to excrete digested food; hence, constipation is common among obese people.

Constipation is characterized by long intervals between bowel movements, dry and hard stools, difficulty in defecation, and abdominal distension. If constipation is chronic, feces remain in the intestines for too long, fermenting and puttingrefying toxins that produce large amounts of harmful toxins. These toxins, absorbed by the body, can lead to dizziness, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, and even increase the risk of rectal and colon cancer. Furthermore, there are reports that chronic constipation can impair cognitive function; 80% of Alzheimer's disease cases are related to constipation.

For obese individuals suffering from constipation, in addition to addressing the root cause of obesity, it is important to increase exercise to enhance gastrointestinal motility, cultivate good bowel habits, eat more high-fiber foods, vegetables, and fruits, drink plenty of plain water and a moderate amount of honey water, drink less tea, avoid abusing laxatives, or choose a probiotic laxative such as Ziyin Runchang Oral Liquid.

Overweight people are prone to lower back and leg pain

For obese individuals, excessive weight is like a heavy burden, exceeding the body's physiological capacity. This strain places excessive strain on the lower back, lower limb tissues, and joints, easily leading to lumbar lordosis, herniated discs, lumbar muscle injury, lower back pain, lower limb joint injuries, sciatica, bone aging, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis. Another cause is metabolic disorders, such as arteriosclerosis due to disordered fat metabolism, resulting in ischemic bone nutritional deficiencies. Obese individuals are prone to diabetes, and diabetic patients often have abnormal calcium and phosphorus metabolism, leading to bone resorption and osteoporosis.

Clinical observation data show that more than 50% of patients with osteoarthritis, as well as those with lower back pain, back pain, and leg pain, are obese.