Types of obesity, periods of high risk of weight gain, and the necessity of timely examination.

What are the different types of obesity?

Obesity can be classified in several ways. A common method is to divide it into simple obesity, secondary obesity, and drug-induced obesity.

(1) Simple obesity

Simple obesity is the most common type of obesity, accounting for about 95% of obese people.

These patients have relatively even fat distribution throughout their bodies, no endocrine disorders, and no metabolic diseases. Their families often have a history of obesity.

This type of obesity, mainly caused by genetic factors and overnutrition, is called simple obesity.

(2) Secondary obesity

Secondary obesity is caused by endocrine and metabolic diseases.

This is a case of pathological obesity.

It accounts for about 2%-5% of obesity cases.

The most common types are as follows: ① Hyperadrenocortical obesity; ② Pituitary obesity; ③ Pancreatic obesity; ④ Hypothalamic obesity; ⑤ Hypogonadal obesity; ⑥ Hypothyroid obesity.

Treatment should primarily focus on addressing the underlying disease; methods such as exercise and diet control for weight loss are not recommended.

(3) Drug-induced obesity

Some medications, while effectively treating certain diseases, also have the side effect of causing patients to become obese.

For example, the use of corticosteroids (such as hydrocortisone) to treat allergic diseases, rheumatism, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, etc., can also cause patients to gain weight; phenothiazines used to treat mental illness can also cause sexual dysfunction and obesity in patients.

This type of obese patient accounts for about 2% of all obesity cases.

Generally speaking, obesity can improve on its own once the use of such medications is discontinued.

Unfortunately, some patients become "intractable obesity" patients as a result.

At what stage of life is a person most prone to obesity?

Throughout a person's long life, weight gain is not common at every stage. It is more common during certain periods when intake exceeds expenditure or when anabolism exceeds catabolism.

(1) Infancy

For a long time, people have believed that obesity in infants and young children is a sign of health.

Therefore, parents all hope that their babies will be as chubby as possible.

Especially nowadays, parents of only children, who have only one child and are financially well-off, are very worried that their little ones will not be malnourished.

Therefore, after a baby is born, in addition to breastfeeding, artificial feeding should be added, and solid foods (mostly rice, noodles, sugar and other high-energy carbohydrates) should be introduced too early (1-2 months after birth).

In the first three months, babies cannot roll over or move around, and they sleep after being fed, so they consume little energy.

Therefore, overfeeding leads to an intake that exceeds consumption, promoting infant obesity.

With social development and improved living standards, children are given whatever they want to eat.

Therefore, children may develop bad habits such as being picky eaters and having unbalanced diets.

Over time, this leads to the accumulation of energy in the body, resulting in childhood obesity.

(2) Adolescence

After entering puberty, the ovaries of women and the testes of men become very active, and the secretion of sex hormones gradually increases.

Estrogen in a woman's body can affect metabolism, causing a significant increase in subcutaneous fat content in teenage girls.

At the same time, children have a heavy academic burden during this period and little time for activities and exercise.

Therefore, if intake increases while expenditure decreases, it is easy to gain weight.

(3) After marriage

Young married couples develop regular eating habits because they cook and eat together.

At the same time, social activities have greatly decreased, especially now that living conditions are relatively good, household appliances are readily available, housework is relatively easy, and with a happy mood and delicious food, it won't be long before you gain weight.

(4) Pregnancy

As the fetus progresses after conception, the main reason for pregnancy is excessive energy intake and reduced physical activity.

During pregnancy, due to the enlargement of the fetus, placenta, and reproductive organs, the average weight gain during pregnancy can be 10 kilograms.

During the first three months of pregnancy, weight gain ranges from 0.25 to 2.7 kg, with an average of 0.9 kg. During the fourth, fifth, and sixth months of pregnancy, weight gain ranges from 3.6 to 6.6 kg, with an average of 4.0 kg. During the seventh, eighth, and ninth months of pregnancy (without preeclampsia), weight gain averages 4 to 5 kg.

It is generally believed that weight gain during pregnancy should not exceed 12.5 kg.

Significant weight gain indicates excessive fat accumulation in the body.

Nowadays, many families try their best to increase the nutrition of pregnant women in order to give birth to a healthy and chubby baby.

However, during this period, physical activity levels decrease significantly, energy expenditure decreases markedly, and fat storage is promoted.

Therefore, they will quickly become obese.

(5) Middle and old age

As people reach middle age, their physical activity decreases significantly, but the secretion of sex hormones remains at a fairly high level. This directly affects the metabolism of proteins and fats in the human body, providing a good opportunity for weight gain.

A survey shows that when mental workers over 45 years old are divided into seven age groups-45-49, 50-54, and 55-59-the number of people with normal body types gradually decreases with age.

Obese individuals account for approximately 6.15% of the 45-49 age group, and this percentage gradually increases thereafter.

It peaks at 55-59 years old, accounting for 26.85%, and then gradually declines with age, reaching its lowest point after age 75, accounting for only 6.06%.

It is evident that 55-59 years old is one of the age groups most prone to obesity.

As people enter middle and old age, they have already achieved results at work, and there is no need to be too stressed about their studies, and their children have grown up.

Therefore, people were happy, prosperous, and had a stable life during this period.

Therefore, older adults focus on improving the quality of their diet.

At the same time, changes in hormone metabolism after menopause disrupt fat metabolism, leading to increased fat storage and obesity.

Why should obese patients undergo timely examinations?

Examinations of obese patients should be conducted in hospitals; therefore, necessary examinations should be performed on obese individuals when necessary.

① Measuring height and weight are the most basic examinations for weight loss treatment of obese people.

Checking fasting and postprandial insulin levels can identify characteristics of obesity.

③ Fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, and glucose tolerance tests can reveal the relationship between obesity and diabetes.

④ Biochemical tests related to blood lipids can reveal whether obese individuals have hyperlipidemia.

⑤ Checking triglycerides in conjunction with ultrasound can reveal the intrinsic relationship between obesity and fatty liver.

⑥ Kidney function tests can help doctors detect Cushing's syndrome and pituitary tumors.

⑦ Growth hormone testing can detect whether obesity is effective.

⑧ Sex hormone testing can observe estrogen and androgen, as well as their sites of action, which helps determine a weight loss plan.

Furthermore, attention should be paid to changes in body temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, and basal metabolic rate.

For patients suspected of having obesity, the following examinations should be performed: X-ray of the sella turcica, CT or MRI to rule out intracranial lesions; serum cortisol, total triiodothyronine (TT3) and total thyroxine (TT4), TSH to measure thyroid function; blood sex hormones including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), estradiol (E2), prolactin (PRL) to measure gonadal function; prolonged oral glucose tolerance test and serum insulin test to rule out insulinoma and type II diabetes; and water diuresis test to rule out water retention obesity, etc.