What tests are needed for obesity?

Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
Updated on September 15, 2024
00:00
00:00

Obesity, also known as adiposity, is a chronic metabolic disease caused by excessive accumulation of fat or abnormal fat distribution in the body. Therefore, once obesity is diagnosed, it is necessary to conduct tests related to metabolism, such as blood glucose, blood lipids, blood pressure, and blood uric acid, which are commonly known as the "four highs" tests. Additionally, liver function tests and kidney function tests should be completed to exclude obesity caused by other diseases. It is also necessary to conduct examinations for pituitary tumors, adrenal cortex function, and thyroid function to determine whether the obesity is secondary to other diseases.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
1min 30sec home-news-image

Can people with obesity exercise?

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Tang Zhuo
Endocrinology
1min 59sec home-news-image

The Harms of Obesity

Mild to moderate primary obesity might not present with noticeable symptoms. However, individuals with severe obesity may experience heat intolerance, reduced physical activity capability, mild shortness of breath during activities, and snoring during sleep. The likelihood of developing coronary heart disease and hypertension is significantly higher in obese individuals compared to those who are not obese. Obesity leads to reduced lung capacity and decreased pulmonary compliance, which can cause various pulmonary functional abnormalities. For instance, obese hypoventilation syndrome, clinically characterized by sleepiness, obesity, and alveolar hypoventilation, often accompanies obstructive sleep apnea. Severe cases of obesity may lead to pulmonary heart syndrome. Obese individuals often experience metabolic disorders of lipids and carbohydrates; lipid metabolism disorders can lead to hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia, while carbohydrate metabolism disorders are marked by glucose intolerance and diabetes. Moreover, obese individuals are more prone to arthritis, gout, and osteoporosis. Sexual dysfunction is common in obese individuals, with some obese men developing gynecomastia; obese girls tend to have an earlier onset of menstruation, while adult women with obesity often experience menstrual disorders, and in severe cases, amenorrhea. The incidence of polycystic ovary syndrome is also significantly higher in obese women compared to non-obese women.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun Jun
Endocrinology
56sec home-news-image

Obesity is a disease.

Obesity is related to an excessive accumulation of fat in the body, or abnormal distribution of fat, leading to weight gain. The causes include environmental factors, genetic factors, and other elements interacting to trigger this metabolic disease. Nowadays, dietary patterns have resulted in an increasing population of overweight and obese individuals. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the causes of obesity. If it is a case of simple obesity, it can be managed through diet and exercise. If it is pathological obesity, such as Cushing's syndrome, this type of obesity primarily causes abdominal obesity, thin limbs, abdominal purple streaks, and may also include increased facial acne. In such cases, medical or even surgical interventions might be necessary.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
57sec home-news-image

Is it difficult for people with obesity to get pregnant?

Patients with obesity, especially women with excessive abdominal fat, often experience disrupted hormonal balance due to altered levels of circulating sex hormones. This frequently leads to ovulatory abnormalities and excess androgens, often accompanied by reproductive dysfunction. As a result, such conditions manifest as difficulty in conceiving, and are commonly associated with menstrual irregularities, amenorrhea, and infertility. Some patients may also develop polycystic ovary syndrome. Even in pregnant obese women, the risks of diabetes and hypertension increase, as do the risks of complications during childbirth and congenital abnormalities in their infants. Therefore, it is crucial for women of childbearing age to maintain a normal weight.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Lang Bo
Endocrinology
48sec home-news-image

What tests are needed for obesity?

Obesity is divided into simple obesity and secondary obesity. Simple obesity refers simply to being overweight without any other primary diseases. Secondary obesity requires examination of certain conditions, such as hypothyroidism, which can lead to obesity, thus necessitating thyroid function tests; or Cushing's syndrome, which involves increased body weight due to excessive corticosteroid hormones produced by various causes, necessitating an examination of the cortisol rhythm and sometimes a dexamethasone suppression test, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pituitary, and CT scan of the adrenal glands; also conditions such as depression or psychiatric illnesses that can lead to weight gain, requiring corresponding psychiatric scales, among others. In addition to these tests, it is also necessary to consider the patient's clinical symptoms and then conduct targeted examinations based on these symptoms.