What diseases are people with obesity prone to?

Written by Tang Zhuo

Endocrinology

Updated on March 07, 2025

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Obesity, also known as adiposis, is a chronic metabolic disease caused by excessive accumulation or abnormal distribution of body fat. It results from the interaction of multiple factors, including genetics and environmental elements. Patients with obesity have a significantly increased incidence of hypertension, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, osteoarticular diseases, and certain tumors and cardiovascular diseases are closely related to obesity.

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Written by Luo Juan

Endocrinology

49sec

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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 Luo Han Ying

Endocrinology

36sec

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What department should obesity be treated in?

Obesity should be considered based on the specific situation. If the patient has uniform obesity, meaning that the limbs and torso are equally fat, then they should visit the nutrition department for guidance on dietary control, diet adjustments, and increased exercise. However, if the patient's obesity appears different, for example, if they have a very thick back, a larger belly, a red face, and acne, then I suggest they consult the endocrinology department because it might be related to Cushing's syndrome, which involves centripetal obesity.

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Written by Zhao Xin Lan

Endocrinology

1min 30sec

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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.

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Written by Tang Zhuo

Endocrinology

1min 33sec

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Obesity weight loss methods

The treatment of obesity involves two main components. One is reducing calorie intake and the other is increasing calorie consumption, mainly emphasizing a comprehensive treatment based primarily on diet and exercise. Secondly, medications or surgical treatments can be utilized. In the case of secondary obesity, it is important to treat the underlying cause. So, what is behavioral therapy? It involves educating patients and their families about obesity and its risks, enabling them to cooperate with the treatment, adopt a healthy lifestyle, change dietary and exercise habits, and maintain these changes consciently in the long term as the foremost and most important measures in the treatment of obesity. Thirdly, controlling diet and increasing physical activity are crucial. Individuals with mild obesity can control their total food intake with a low-calorie, low-fat diet. For those with moderate to severe obesity, total calorie intake should be strictly controlled, with women limited to 1200-1500 kcal per day and men to 1500-1800 kcal per day. Following this standard, a weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week can be achieved. Furthermore, for severe obesity, medications can be used to reduce weight, which can then be maintained. If necessary, surgical procedures such as jejunoileal bypass or biliopancreatic diversion surgery can be considered.

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Written by Tang Zhuo

Endocrinology

1min 29sec

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Obesity is formed in what way?

Obesity, also known as adiposity, is a chronic metabolic disorder caused by an excessive accumulation of fat in the body or abnormal fat distribution. The exact causes of obesity are not clear, but it is generally believed to be the result of the interaction of multiple factors including environmental and genetic factors. In terms of environmental factors, there is a tendency for obesity to cluster in families; individuals with one or both parents who are obese have a significantly increased likelihood of being obese themselves. The second factor is environmental influences. Consuming more calories than are expended is the primary cause of obesity. Additionally, sedentary lifestyles, lack of physical exercise, and insufficient physical activity all contribute to reduced energy expenditure, leading to obesity. Poor dietary habits, such as eating large portions, a preference for sweets, or oily foods, also increase calorie intake and contribute to the occurrence of obesity. Furthermore, genetic mutations can also lead to obesity. Another viewpoint suggests that childhood obesity can increase the incidence of adult obesity, with people who were obese after the age of six having a more than 50% chance of being obese in adulthood.