Obesity
Obesity
Obesity
INTRODUCTION
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines overweight and obesity as abnormal or
excessive fat accumulation that presents a task to health. It is a medical problem that
increases the risk of other diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and
certain cancers. The fat deposition takes place because over a period of time, people consume
diets which provided much more energy than they were able to expend for their metabolism,
physical activity and growth. The progression from lean state to obesity brings with it a
phenotypic change in adipose tissue and the development of chronic low-grade inflammation.
This is characterized by increased levels of circulating free-fatty acids, soluble pro-
inflammatory factors. The metabolic and cardiovascular aspects of obesity are closely linked.
The chronic inflammatory state associated with obesity is established as a major contributing
factor for insulin resistance, which itself is one of the key pathophysiology's of T2D. Obesity
has enormous healthcare costs exceeding $700 billion each year. The economic burden is
estimated to be about $100 billion annually in the United States alone. The body mass index
(BMI) is used to define obesity, which is calculated as weight (kg)/height (m2). While the
BMI does correlate with body fat in a curvilinear fashion, it may not be as accurate in Asians
and older people, where a normal BMI may conceal underlying excess fat. Obesity can also
be estimated by assessing skin thickness in the triceps, biceps, subscapular, and supra-iliac
areas. Overweight and obesity result from an imbalance of energy intake (diet) and energy
expenditure (physical activity). In most cases obesity is a multifactorial disease due to
obesogenic environments, psycho-social factors and genetic variants. In a subgroup of
patients, single major etiological factors can be identified (medications, diseases,
immobilization, iatrogenic procedures, monogenic disease/genetic syndrome).
One of the goals of assessment in an obese patient is to decide whom to treat. Three main
issues must be considered: 1) whether treatment is indicated, 2) whether treatment is safe for
the patient, and 3) whether the patient is ready and motivated to lose weight. Figure 2 shows
a suggested algorithm for stratifying risk in patients. This algorithm is a simplified version of
the algorithm presented in the Practical Guide. The algorithm takes into account the BMI;
waist circumference; and a finite group of risk factors, including cigarette smoking,
hypertension, elevated LDLcholesterol, low levels of HDL-cholesterol, impaired fasting
glucose, family history of coronary heart disease, and age. Of note, with a BMI of 30 kg/m2
or greater should be considered for treatment regardless of waist circumference or risk
factors. Treatment may be indicated for patients of normal weight if they have a waist
circumference 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men, as well as two or more of the listed
risk factors. The recommendations should not be implemented without first considering their
applicability to an individual patient. In muscular patients and in edematous patients, for
example, BMI can overstate medical risk by overestimating body fat. Because muscle mass
declines with age, BMI can understate risk in the elderly. The relationship between BMI and
body fat can vary with ethnicity and gender (2), although including waist circumference as a
parameter in risk assessment may help compensate for associated difference in fat
distribution
Body Mass Index (BMI): It is one way of measuring whether a person's weight or body fat
is higher than what is considered a healthy weight for a given height. This is measured by:
calculating a person's weight in kilograms, then dividing that number by the person's height
in meters squared (kg/m2). If the resulting ratio is high, then it can be an indicator of high
body fat
Overweight 23 – 24.9
Obese >30
Assessing obesity accurately is crucial for effective prevention and intervention strategies.
Among the various methods used to measure obesity, waist circumference (WC), hip
circumference (HC), and the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) are particularly significant due to their
ability to predict health risks associated with obesity. These measurements are especially
relevant in the Asian context, where body fat distribution patterns and health risk thresholds
differ from those in Western populations.
Waist circumference is a simple and effective measure of central adiposity, which is closely
linked to visceral fat. Visceral fat is more metabolically active than subcutaneous fat and is
strongly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and
metabolic syndrome. In the Asian population, the risk of these conditions occurs at lower
levels of waist circumference compared to Western populations. This necessitates the use of
specific criteria to define central obesity.
These cut-offs are recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the
International Diabetes Federation (IDF) for Asian populations. They reflect the increased
susceptibility of Asians to obesity-related health risks at lower levels of waist circumference.
Hip circumference measures the distance around the widest part of the hips and buttocks.
While not as strongly associated with health risks as waist circumference, hip circumference
is used to calculate the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), providing additional insight into body fat
distribution.
The waist-to-hip ratio is calculated by dividing the waist circumference by the hip
circumference. WHR is an indicator of fat distribution, with a higher ratio indicating a greater
proportion of abdominal fat relative to hip fat. This measurement is significant because
abdominal fat, particularly visceral fat, is more closely linked to adverse health outcomes
than fat stored in the hips and thighs.
Asian Criteria for Waist-to-Hip Ratio
These criteria highlight the importance of central obesity as a health risk marker. Asians tend
to have a higher body fat percentage and greater visceral fat deposition at lower BMI levels
compared to Caucasians, making WHR a valuable tool in assessing obesity-related health
risks.
Etiology
Obesity can cause increased fatty acid deposition in the myocardium, causing left ventricular
dysfunction. It has also been shown to alter the renin-angiotensin system, causing increasing
salt retention and elevated blood pressure.
Besides total body fat, the following also increase the morbidity of obesity:
Cardiovascular health
• Weight loss is associated with beneficial changes in several cardiovascular risk markers,
including dyslipidemia, pro-inflammatory/pro-thrombotic mediators, arterial stiffness, and
hypertension.
• Weight loss was found to reduce the risk for CVD mortality by 41% up to 23 years after the
original weight-loss intervention.
• Evidence including the biological effects of obesity and weight loss, and the increased risk
for stroke with obesity indicates that weight loss may be effective for primary- and
secondary-stroke prevention.
Type 2 diabetes
• The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), the Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS), and the Da
Qing IGT and Diabetes (Da Qing) study, have demonstrated that modest weight loss through
short-term lifestyle or pharmacologic interventions can reduce the risk for developing T2D by
58%, and 31%, respectively, in individuals with obesity and prediabetes.
Cancer
• Intentional weight loss of >9 kg reduced the risk for a range of cancers including breast,
endometrium, and colon.
• The overall reduction in the incidence rate of any cancer was 11% for participants who lost
more than 9 kg compared with those who did not achieve a more than 9 kg weight loss
episode.
• Low-calorie diets (LCD) reduce the amounts of all macronutrients, including fat, to
achieve a daily caloric intake of 1,000-1,400 Kcal/day.
• Very low-calorie diets recommend a daily caloric intake of less than 1,000 Kcal/day
and invariably restrict fat and carbohydrate, but near normal protein intake is maintained.
• Moderate fat (20% to 30%) balanced nutrient reduction diets, high in CHO and
moderate in protein.
Obesity causes multiple comorbid and chronic medical conditions, and physicians should
have a multiprong approach to the management of obesity. Practitioners should
individualize treatment, treat underlying secondary causes of obesity, and focus on
managing or controlling associated comorbid conditions. Management should include
dietary modification, behaviour interventions, medications, and surgical intervention if
needed. The goal of obesity treatment is to help obese individuals reach and stay at a
healthy weight, limit their risks of developing other serious health issues, and improve
their overall quality of life. This may require the help of a team of health professionals,
including a dietician, to help patients suffering from obesity understand their situation and
make the necessary changes in their eating and activity habits; start exercising and eating
a healthy diet. The doctor sets a goal weight for the patient and explains how it can be
achieved. Initially, the goal may be to lose 5 to 10 percent of their body weight within six
months. The dietary modification should be individualized with close monitoring of
regular weight loss. Low-calorie diets are recommended. Low calorie could be
carbohydrate or fat restricted. A low-carbohydrate diet can produce greater weight loss in
the first months compared to a low-fat diet. The patient's adherence to their diet should
frequently be emphasized. The patient may start feeling better upon losing a small amount
of weight, about 5 to 15 percent of their total weight. That is, if the patient weighs 91 kg
and is obese by BMI standards, then this patient may need a loss between 4.5 to 13.6 kg
for their health to begin to improve.
Surgery
Indications for surgery are a BMI greater or equal to 40 or a BMI of 35 or greater with
severe comorbid conditions. The patient should be compliant with post-surgery lifestyle
changes, office visits, and exercise programs. Patients should have an extensive
preoperative evaluation of surgical risks. Commonly performed bariatric surgeries include
adjustable gastric banding, Rou-en-Y gastric bypass, and sleeve gastrectomy. Rapid
weight loss can be achieved with a gastric bypass, and it is the most commonly performed
procedure. Early postoperative complications include leak, infection, postoperative
bleeding, thrombosis, and cardiac events. Late complications include malabsorption,
vitamin and mineral deficiency, refeeding syndrome, and dumping syndrome.
Procedure: Creates a small pouch from the stomach and connects it directly to the small
intestine, bypassing a large portion of the stomach and part of the intestine.
Mechanism: Reduces the amount of food the stomach can hold and decreases calorie
absorption.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Mechanism: Reduces stomach capacity and alters gut hormones that regulate hunger.
Procedure: Places an inflatable band around the upper part of the stomach to create a small
pouch.
Mechanism: Restricts food intake by making the patient feel full sooner.
Benefits: Greater and more sustained weight loss, effective for severe obesity.
Risks: Higher risk of nutritional deficiencies, more complex surgery with higher complication
rates.
1. Body Mass Index (BMI): Typically, candidates have a BMI of 40 or higher, or a BMI
of 35 or higher with serious obesity-related health conditions (e.g., type 2 diabetes,
hypertension).
2. Previous Weight Loss Attempts: Patients should have a history of unsuccessful
weight loss attempts through diet, exercise, and medication.
3. Health Status: Candidates must be evaluated for potential surgical risks and overall
health status.
4. Psychological Evaluation: Ensures patients are mentally prepared for the lifestyle
changes required post-surgery.
Post-Surgical Considerations
1. Diet and Lifestyle Changes: Long-term success requires adherence to specific dietary
guidelines and regular physical activity.
2. Follow-Up Care: Regular follow-up visits are essential to monitor weight loss
progress, nutritional status, and any potential complications.
3. Nutritional Supplements: Lifelong supplementation of vitamins and minerals may be
necessary to prevent deficiencies.
DRUGS
Pharmacotherapy for obesity is indicated for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30
kg/m² or greater, or 27 kg/m² or greater with obesity-related comorbidities. The primary goals
of drug therapy are to reduce body weight, maintain weight loss, and improve obesity-related
health conditions.
Appetite Suppressants
Lipase Inhibitors
Combination Medications
The efficacy of anti-obesity medications varies, but clinical trials typically show an average
weight loss of 5-10% of initial body weight over 6-12 months. This level of weight loss can
significantly improve obesity-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and
dyslipidemia.
A fat-reduced diet, combined with physical activity, reduces almost all risk factors for
cardiovascular disease and reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes. The combination of
reduction of dietary fat and energy, and increased physical activity has been shown to reduce
the incidence of diabetes by 58% in 2 major trials. In post hoc analyses, the reduction in
dietary fat (energy density) and increase in fiber were the strongest predictors of weight loss
and diabetes-protective effects. However, there is evidence that increasing the protein content
of the diet from 15% up to 20%-30%, at the expense of carbohydrates, increases the satiating
effect of the diet, and induces a spontaneous weight loss, and this could turn out to be a
preferred option for patients with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Energy: it is important to reduce the energy intake to achieve weight loss and once weight
loss is achieved, the lower energy intake has to be sustained to prevent weight regain.
• The low calorie diet should be individualized for carbohydrates, using the sources
such as vegetables, fruits, pulses and whole grains.
• Very Low-Calorie Diets (VLCD) are designed to produce rapid weight loss and
preserve lean body mass by providing below 800Kcals,50-80g of protein and
100% of the recommended intake for vitamins and minerals per day.
Proteins: Adequate amount of proteins should be included in the diet to ensure proper
metabolism and prevent weakness which is usually experienced by patients after weight loss
which is achieved by consuming an unbalanced diet. Protein rich Foods provide a higher
satiety as compared to those rich in carbohydrates i.e., 1g/kg body weight.
Fats: Excess dietary fat promotes much more weight gain than carbohydrate or protein of the
same amount. Further, the gain in weight due to excess intake of fat is in the form of adipose
tissues which is not conducive to good health. Include fat in the form of vegetable oils, rich in
MUFA’s and PUFA’s so that sufficient essential fatty acids are supplied in the diet and at the
same time the risk of developing coronary artery disease can be minimized.
• Low Fat Diets (LFD) -10% decrease in fat calories is required for successful weight
loss but an aggressive reduction of dietary fat rather than minimal modification is
essential for this strategy to be effective. A low fat diet does appear to be important
for long-term weight loss maintenance.
Vitamins: If adequate number of fresh fruits and vegetables are included in the diet, the body
stores of water soluble vitamins are usually not depleted. However, when we restrict fats for
prolonged periods, the diet may be deficient in fat-soluble vitamins A and D. They may need
to be supplemented for the chronic cases.
Minerals: A diet high in sodium may promote retention of fluid in the body. Moderate
restriction in the use of common salt may be helpful in a weight reducing diet, particularly if
the patient is also hypertensive.
Fluids: Liberal amounts of water and zero/low calorie fluids may be included in the diet. It
may be helpful to have a glass of water before meal to reduce food intake.
In recent times, the use of meal replacements to formulate a VLCD, low in carbohydrates, is
being researched. In a real-world study, dietary restriction with 830 kcal/day with 50–55%
carbohydrates in people with a baseline BMI of 31.9 kg/m2 showed significant improvement
in obesity indices and other metabolic parameters. Despite being an effective method for
short-term significant weight loss, VLCD is neither practical nor sustainable in the long term.
A day’s menu plan for an obese individual
Green leafy
vegetables
2.05
Spinach 100 24.38 2.14 0.64 82.24 2.45 30.26
Vegetables
Beans 10 4.02 0.26 0.36 0.04 12.1 O.39 1.8
Tomato 160 31.36 4.34 1.44 0.75 16.27 0.48 43.95
Cucumber 15 2.55 0.52 0.1 0.02 - -
0
Onion 190 91.28 18.1 2.85 - 31.96
3.7
36
Carrot 60 19.23 3.33 0.57 0.28 21.05
Fruits
Lemon 10 4.02 1.1 0.01 0.04 12.1 0.39 1.8
Tamarind 5 13.65 3.37 0.16 0.02 5.5 0.21 0.15
Apple 50 31.32 6.56 0.14 0.32 6.54 0.13 1.79
Miscellaneous
Jaggery 15 51 22.7 0.15 0.03 245.7 - -
Honey 20 31.9 15.9 0.03 - 0.5 0.07 -
oil 20 170 0.17 - - 15 - -
Reference- A brief note on nutrient requirements for Indians, the recommended dietary
allowances and the Estimated Average Requirements (EAR), ICMR- NIN, 2020.
CONCLUSION
Obesity is a multifactorial disease, with both individual and environmental factors influencing
dietary adherence. Dietary approaches with a reduction in energy intake that have led to success
at weight loss have focused on macronutrient composition and food patterns. A unifying
principle for weight loss across eating patterns is dietary energy density.
The obesity epidemic continues to worsen and has become a public health issue. There is no
cure for obesity, and almost every treatment available has limitations and potential adverse
effects. Lifestyle changes alone can help obese people reverse the weight gain, but the problem
is most people are not motivated to exercise.
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