Obesity Warning During the Pandemic

Over the past year, spending more time at home as part of efforts to combat the global pandemic accelerated inactivity and snacking-related weight gain. During this period, obesity, the dangerous disease of the modern age, also became more widespread. Studies on obesity, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "abnormal or excessive fat accumulation in the body to a degree that impairs health," demonstrate the scale of the danger. According to the preliminary report of the Turkey Nutrition and Health Research-2010, obesity in the country reached 20.5% in men, 41% in women, and 30.3% overall. Prof. Dr. Bilgi Baca, Faculty Member of the Department of General Surgery at Acıbadem University Medical School and General Surgery Specialist at Acıbadem Altunizade Hospital, states: "According to WHO data, overweight and obesity are responsible for 80% of Type 2 diabetes, 35% of ischemic heart disease and 55% of hypertension in adults in Europe. Furthermore, it causes more than 1 million deaths annually. Obesity is not merely a cosmetic issue but is a chronic disease in itself that can lead to many other diseases." In a statement made on the occasion of World Obesity Day on 4 March, Prof. Dr. Bilgi Baca explained 10 serious problems caused by obesity, the danger of which increased during the pandemic, and provided important warnings and recommendations.

Diabetes

Most people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. The risk of developing Type 2 diabetes can be reduced by losing weight, eating a balanced diet, getting adequate sleep and exercising more. Losing weight and becoming more physically active can help control blood sugar levels. Becoming more active and losing weight can also reduce the need for diabetes medication.

Hypertension

High blood pressure is linked in various ways to excess weight and obesity. Being overweight can increase blood pressure because the heart needs to pump harder to deliver blood to all body cells. Excess fat also damages the kidneys, causing high blood pressure.

Heart disease

Excess weight increases the likelihood of having high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Both of these conditions increase the likelihood of heart disease or stroke. Weight loss has been shown to reduce the rate of heart disease and stroke. Cancer Colon, breast (postmenopausal), endometrial (uterine lining), kidney and esophageal cancers are linked to obesity. Some studies have also reported links between obesity and gallbladder, ovarian and pancreatic cancers.

Gallbladder disease

Prof. Dr. Bilgi Baca states: "Since being overweight increases the likelihood of developing gallstones, gallbladder disease and gallstones are more commonly encountered in overweight people. For this reason, maintaining ideal weight is of great importance."

Bone and joint disease

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder that frequently affects the knee, hip or back. Carrying excess weight puts extra pressure on these joints and wears away the cartilage that normally protects them. Weight loss can reduce stress on the knees, hips and lower back and improve osteoarthritis symptoms. Another disease affecting the joints is gout. It is a disease that develops with an increase in uric acid in the blood. Gout is more common in overweight people.

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea is a breathing problem linked to being overweight. Sleep apnea, which can cause a person to snore heavily and temporarily stop breathing during sleep, can also increase the likelihood of heart disease and stroke. Weight loss generally improves sleep apnea.

Fatty liver disease

The cause of fatty liver disease is still unknown. The disease mostly affects middle-aged, overweight, obese and diabetic people.

Gestational diabetes and hypertension

Excess weight and obesity increase the risk of health problems that can develop during pregnancy for both mother and baby. Pregnant women who are obese are more likely to develop gestational diabetes (high blood sugar during pregnancy) and preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), and these two conditions can cause serious problems for both mother and baby. Babies of overweight or obese mothers are at high risk for premature birth, stillbirth (death in the womb after 20 weeks of pregnancy) and neural tube defects (brain and spinal cord defects).

Depression

Prof. Dr. Bilgi Baca states: "Many people affected by obesity experience depression. Some studies have found a strong relationship between obesity and major depressive disorder. People affected by obesity may face discrimination in society. Over time, this can lead to feelings of sadness or lack of self-confidence."