Can people with obesity exercise?

Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
Updated on September 16, 2024
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Obesity is a metabolic disease caused by excessive accumulation of fat in the body or abnormal distribution, commonly referred to as obesity, with body weight exceeding the standard. Obesity can be due to excessive intake and insufficient exercise; thus, not only can obese individuals exercise, but they also need to persist in it. However, during exercise, it is important to consider special circumstances. The amount and method of exercise vary from person to person, and it is necessary to develop individualized exercise plans and choose exercises or programs that are easy to maintain while progressively advancing. However, when designing exercise treatment plans, it is crucial to consider the impact of complications, especially for patients with cardiovascular, respiratory, or musculoskeletal comorbidities, and choose suitable forms of exercise. Generally, it is recommended to exercise three to five days per week, with 30 to 45 minutes of appropriate activity each day. Patients with these complications should avoid intense exercises and can start with mild activities such as brisk walking, swimming, and strolling, or consult with rehabilitation specialists to develop appropriate individualized exercise plans.

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Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
38sec home-news-image

What should people with obesity eat?

Patients with obesity, due to excessive caloric intake, experience accumulation of fat in the body, leading to overweight. Obesity can cause many dangers, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, etc., so it is important to control your diet. The correct way for diabetic patients to eat is to avoid high-calorie, high-fat foods, such as fat-rich animal products and animal viscera, avoid high-calorie sugary drinks and high-sugar fruits, and try to eat low-calorie, high-fiber vegetables.

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Written by Li Lang Bo
Endocrinology
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What department do you see for obesity?

The preferred specialty is endocrinology and metabolism because obesity itself is a metabolic disease. Besides the commonly known simple obesity, there is also a type called secondary obesity. The distinction between the two is that in simple obesity, the body does not suffer from any other disease; weight gain is merely caused by unscientific diet, irregular lifestyle, and lack of exercise, which can be resolved through some scientific methods. Another type is called secondary obesity, such as a common disease in endocrinology called Cushing's syndrome. It is caused by a tumor or hyperplasia in the pituitary or adrenal glands, or other reasons that lead to an excessive secretion of cortisol in the blood, consequently causing a redistribution of body fat, leading to moon face, buffalo hump, and accumulation of subcutaneous fat in the abdomen. Common in endocrinology, hypothyroidism can also lead to weight gain. This requires endocrinology specialists to diagnose and identify the specific condition in order to provide appropriate treatment.

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Written by Luo Juan
Endocrinology
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The causes of obesity

Obesity can be classified into primary and secondary obesity according to its causes. Primary obesity, also known as simple obesity, is the most common type among various forms of obesity. It is mainly caused by poor dietary habits such as overeating, especially excessive intake of fatty foods, and a sedentary lifestyle, rather than being secondary to other diseases. Secondary obesity, on the other hand, is often due to diseases of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, hypercortisolism, hypofunction of the thyroid or gonads, insulinomas, and other diseases. Secondary obesity is mainly due to diseases, and it can show some symptoms of the underlying disease.

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Written by Yang Li
Endocrinology
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Harms of Obesity

In the case of obesity, it is first necessary to distinguish between physiological obesity and pathological obesity. For pathological obesity, further examination of the adrenal glands is required, such as respiratory syndrome, some problems with the pituitary gland, or conditions caused by Cushing's syndrome, all of which can lead to pathological obesity. The risks associated with obesity are quite significant. Firstly, it directly causes disturbances in the body's energy metabolism, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, or other issues. Obesity can also lead to fatty liver, lipid deposition in the heart, kidneys, and other organs, resulting in corresponding organ damage. Additionally, it can cause infertility due to the deposition of fat in the ovaries, and in terms of joints, it places excessive load on the human joints, leading to various joint diseases, and consequently increasing the risks of cardiovascular diseases and sudden death risks.

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Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
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Can people with obesity do yoga?

Overall, individuals with obesity can still practice yoga, as obesity is a condition of nutritional excess and yoga is an aerobic exercise that can increase metabolic rate in the body, achieving a weight loss effect. However, there are many causes of obesity. Primarily, there is simple obesity, for which yoga can be helpful and can reduce body weight. If obesity is secondary, particularly induced by excessive use of steroids and conditions like Cushing's syndrome, yoga can be an appropriate form of exercise, but it is crucial to address the root cause. If the obesity is due to nodules on the adrenal gland, further surgical treatment might be necessary. Therefore, whether individuals with obesity can practice yoga also depends on their physical strength and other personal health conditions, including heart, liver, and kidney functions.