It is already known that obesity is a multifactorial condition – that is, it has more than one cause involved. With this in mind, a Brazilian study published at the beginning of the year in the magazine Nature Metabolism decided to investigate the main determinants of the epidemic in Latin America, and discovered influences that go beyond genetics, a sedentary lifestyle and inadequate diet.
According to scientists, there are eight determining factors for obesity in the countries analyzed:
- Physical environment;
- Food exposure;
- Economic and political interest;
- Social inequality;
- Limited access to scientific knowledge;
- Culture;
- Contextual behavior;
- Genetics.
In the article, a review of previous work, the authors reiterate the need for interventions focused on the specificities of the regions in question, in addition to proposing a task force with initiatives focused on understanding the disease and preventing its growth.
Health consequences of obesity
Reduced fertility
According to the Dr. Rodrigo Rosaspecialist in human reproduction and clinical director of Clínica Mater Prime, studies show that overweight women have around 25% less chance of getting pregnant and those with obesity show a drop in the monthly rate of up to 50% compared to women of the same age and normal weight.
“Inadequate weight interferes with production of female sex hormonesespecially estrogen, which consequently interferes with the ovulation process”, he highlights.
Furthermore, in women, there is still a risk of developing gestational diabeteswhich can cause serious health problems in the child.
In relation to men, the doctor emphasizes that the impacts can be even greater, leading to a decrease of up to 60% in fertility. “Excess body fat impairs the production of testosterone, which, in addition to reducing sexual appetite e cause erection difficultiesalso interferes with the quality and quantity of sperm. In general, the greater the excess weight, the lower the quality, concentration and mobility of sperm”, he says.
Joint damage
“Being overweight causes a joint overloadcausing excessive repetitive 'trauma' to the cartilage, which consequently leads to its degeneration”, details the Dr. Marcos Cortelazoorthopedist specializing in knee and sports traumatology, member of the Brazilian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology (SBOT).
The damage is even worse when obesity is associated with sedentary lifestyle. “Sedentary patients have a decrease in muscle massleading to loss of joint protection. It is important to remember that joints were made to be moved, so if they remain still for a long time, they undergo a process of atrophy and stiffness that causes pain”, he adds.
Increased risk of metabolic diseases
Obesity can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetessince the abuse of sugar and carbohydrates, in addition to favoring weight gain, causes our body to become resistant to insulin.
A non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is another condition commonly seen in obese people, according to Dr. Marcella Garcez. “It is characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver cells, which, if left untreated, can contribute to the emergence of cardiovascular diseases e steatohepatitisbesides leading to fibrosis and to liver cirrhosis”, says the nutritionist.
“Obese people also have higher chances of developing cancersince the accumulation of fat stimulates the production of hormones involved in the development of cancer cells,” he adds.
Kidney malfunction
“When the body becomes larger due to the accumulation of fat, the kidneys filter at an accelerated rate – what we call hyperfiltration – which, in the long term, triggers chronic kidney diseasewith an estimated risk of two to seven times greater than in individuals without obesity”, warns Dr. Caroline Reigadanephrologist, specialist in Internal Medicine from the Brotherhood of the Santa Casa de Misericórdia of São Paulo and in Nephrology from the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo
Predisposition to cardiovascular and circulatory diseases
Obesity is one of the risk factors for increased cholesterol, of blood pressure and the occurrence of cardiovascular and circulatory diseases.
“Fat is related to the deposit of cholesterol plaques in the coronary arteries that supply the heart, favoring the poor blood circulation. In addition, the veins are affected by the large amount of sodium accumulated in the body of someone who is overweight, which causes fluid retention and makes circulation even more difficult”, emphasizes the vascular surgeon Dra. Aline Lamaitamember of the Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery.
By hindering venous return, this fat harms the health of the legs, favoring appearance of varicose veins. “With impaired venous return, the blood that should return to the heart accumulates in the legs, increasing blood pressure within the veins and favoring their dilation,” says the vascular surgeon.
It is worth remembering that, if not treated properly, varicose veins can cause complications related to inadequate blood pumping, for example, thrombosis.
