Is obesity a disease?

Many people think that obesity is caused by diet, not a disease. But according to doctors, obesity is a chronic disease and is a 'precursor' to a number of other diseases.

According to Associate Professor - Doctor Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Institute of Digestive Surgery, Head of the Department of Digestive Surgery, 108 Central Military Hospital: many people do not think obesity is a disease, it is just due to eating, living, and exercising. However, obesity is considered by experts to be a chronic disease, and it is related to many diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, fatty liver, etc.

Associate Professor - Doctor Nguyen Anh Tuan believes that in treating obesity, doctors and medical staff need to have empathy and share with patients.

PHOTO: V. TRANG

That is the information shared about obesity care and management, organized by Novo Nordisk Vietnam in collaboration with domestic and foreign doctors and experts in Ho Chi Minh City on the afternoon of June 21.

Associate Professor - Doctor Nguyen Anh Tuan Trong said that over the past decade, the rate of obesity increase in Vietnam has been quite high, from 8.5% to 19% (in people aged 5 - 19), higher in urban areas than in rural areas (nearly 27% compared to more than 18%). It is forecasted to continue to increase in the coming years.

Dr. Georgia Rigas, an obesity treatment specialist from Australia, said that Europeans, Chinese, etc. have high obesity rates; in Australia, the frequency of obesity in urban areas is also higher than in rural areas. Vietnam is considered to have a rapidly increasing obesity rate in recent times compared to other countries in the region.

According to experts, in addition to factors related to diet and exercise, obesity is also caused by genetics...

"Obesity is the gateway to many other diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes... The Asian Obesity Research Association considers obesity a disease, and it affects the body's functioning, disrupting the body's organs," said Dr. Georgia Rigas.

Dr. Georgia Rigas says that many people with obesity feel embarrassed, and they also face stigma from some people. Obesity management should not only focus on weight loss, but should also focus on improving the overall quality of life and minimizing health complications for the patient. It is necessary to screen for obesity-related complications early, identify the root causes of obesity and effectively address them with evidence-based therapies, just like other chronic diseases.

According to Dr. Georgia Rigas, it is necessary to minimize health complications for obese people.

PHOTO: V. TRANG

Professor - Doctor Nguyen Anh Tuan said, to treat obesity usually has 3 levels: consulting, instructing patients on diet, exercise, and daily activities; medical treatment (with drugs); and surgery - this is the last step, if the two above treatment steps are not effective.

Obesity surgery is an intervention on the digestive system, not liposuction. Intervention on the stomach and small intestine to reduce hunger and constant cravings to reduce food intake, reduce absorption, and make the patient feel full quickly, but still healthy.

"In treating obesity, doctors and medical staff need to sympathize, talk and share with patients, because many people feel self-conscious, self-conscious and withdrawn when they are obese," said Professor - Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan.

During her working trip to Vietnam from June 20 to 25, Dr. Georgia Rigas shared her expertise with more than 800 medical professionals. The program focused on building a standardized obesity management model, updating the relationship between obesity and related diseases, introducing typical clinical cases and approaches to obesity management at the primary health care level.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/beo-phi-co-phai-la-benh-18525062119322023.htm