Obesity not only makes you more susceptible to metabolic syndrome, but also the three highs, heart disease, and cancer!

The metabolic department often receives visits from people who are troubled by being overweight. Some people are indeed severely obese and their health has begun to suffer; however, some people's weight is within the standard range. "Am I obese?" I believe this is a question that bothers many people!

Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) states that "obesity is a chronic disease." Compared with people of normal weight, obese people are more than three times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, gallbladder disease, dyslipidemia, dyspnea, sleep apnea, etc.

Nowadays, the health of more and more people is deeply affected by obesity, and malnutrition caused by obesity has affected hundreds of millions of people around the world. Obesity is closely related to many diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) points out that "obesity is a chronic disease". Compared with people with normal weight, obese people have

There is more than 3 times the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, gallbladder disease, dyslipidemia, dyspnea, and sleep apnea; there is a 2-3 times higher risk of developing hypertension, hyperuricemia, gout, degenerative arthritis, and coronary heart disease; finally, there is a 1-2 times higher risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer, colorectal cancer, female hormone abnormalities, polycystic ovary disease, infertility, low back pain, fetal malformations, anesthesia risks, etc.

According to statistics from the National Health Administration of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan, Taiwan has the highest prevalence of obesity in Asia; one in two adult males is obese or overweight, while one in three women and one in four children is obese.

Obesity is no longer just a matter of appearance, it also poses a threat to health

So what standards should we use to know whether we are obese? Is a weight of 80 kg considered obese? For two men who are 160cm and 185cm tall respectively, the meaning is different. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposes to use body mass index (BMI) as the basis for diagnosing obesity:

Body Mass Index (BMI) = Weight (kg) / Height (m2) The standards for Easterners and Westerners are different, and the degree and standards of obesity in Taiwan are as follows:

(Photo provided by Far Eastern Hospital)

Therefore, for a man who is 180 cm tall and weighs 80 kg, his BMI = 80/(1.85) 2 = 23.4, which is considered a healthy body shape; however, for a man who is 160 cm tall and weighs 80 kg, his BMI = 80/(1.6) 2 = 31.3, which is considered moderately obese.

In addition to the body mass index (BMI), attention should also be paid to the form of obesity, especially abdominal obesity, which increases the body's insulin resistance, which is closely related to metabolic syndrome.

What is metabolic syndrome? It is a cluster of risk factors related to cardiovascular disease, which often appear together. Therefore, when one of the risk factors appears, it is necessary to check whether the others exist at the same time. For example, when blood sugar is found to be high, blood pressure and blood lipids should also be paid attention to whether they are high. (Please refer to the table below) Adults over 20 years old who have three or more of the following five risk factors can be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.

(Photo provided by Far Eastern Hospital)

Therefore, we need to control our weight as well as maintain our waistline. Most of the fat in people with abdominal obesity is stored in the stomach and internal organs. Compared with the fat accumulated in the thighs or buttocks, this fat is less stable and is prone to secrete excessive free fatty acids or some inflammatory factors. In the long run, it will cause the effect of insulin to become worse and increase blood sugar; the vascular endothelial cells will be damaged and inflamed, resulting in cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure. According to statistics, people with abdominal obesity have about a 50% chance of having metabolic syndrome.

Stay away from obesity and start with healthy living habits:

 Control weight: measure weight, calculate BMI and waist circumference every day.

 Healthy diet: Eat more whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, and less refined starch, processed and fried foods, and foods containing trans fatty acids; eat less red meat and fatty meat, and eat more deep-sea fish and white meat; eat less oil, less salt, and a moderate amount of nuts.

 Exercise more: Exercise can burn fat, consume calories, and convert fat into muscle. It is recommended to exercise at least 3 times a week, 30 minutes each time, with a heart rate of 130 beats per minute or a slight breath.

【Doctor's Tips】:

We must first understand the causes of obesity, especially the harm of abdominal obesity to our health. It is closely related to many diseases. We must never ignore it and must develop healthy living habits. Calculate your BMI and measure your waist circumference now!