Obesity is caused by a variety of factors, including poor lifestyle habits, overeating, and lack of exercise. But read up on these three diseases. This can also lead to weight gain.
Obesity is a chronic and often progressive metabolic disease that affects more people and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. It is caused by the long-term positive energy balance that occurs when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure. Many medical professionals and patients hold the opinion that obesity is caused by a person’s poor and unhealthy lifestyle choices. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including hormonal imbalances.
Genetics and Obesity
Genetics can directly contribute to obesity in certain diseases, such as Prader-Willi syndrome and Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Studies show that genetic contribution to body mass index (BMI) in adults ranges from 40 to 70% in most people.
However, genes do not always predict future health. It may take both genes and behavior for a person to become overweight. In some cases, the risk of obesity may be increased by several genes, and environmental conditions such as abundant food supply and minimal physical activity may also be required.
Conditions associated with weight gain
Conditions and diseases that cause obesity include:
1. Hypothyroidism
Patients with frank clinical hypothyroidism commonly gain weight, partly as a result of increased obesity. Weight gain is usually not that important. Although treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism does not appear to be associated with weight loss, raising serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels within the normal range is associated with modest weight gain in adults. is also related. Observational data suggest that obesity may increase the risk of hypothyroidism, raising questions about the relationship between the two.
2. Cushing’s Syndrome
Patients with Cushing’s syndrome frequently have progressive central obesity affecting the trunk, abdomen, mesentery, and mediastinum. In addition to the larger back and supraclavicular fat pads, the face and neck are where adipose tissue typically accumulates. Extremities frequently show muscle wasting, although they are usually spared.
3. Hypothalamus
Hypothalamic obesity is a type of obesity caused when the hypothalamus does not function properly. One of the most common reasons children develop hypothalamic obesity is treatment for brain tumors that affect the hypothalamus. Damage to the hypothalamus can cause this condition. This syndrome can be caused by tumors (most commonly craniopharyngioma), trauma, radiation, surgery of the posterior fossa, or increased intracranial pressure.
In fact, these parts of the brain are responsible for fusing afferent sensory information about food availability with metabolic information about nutrient stores. decrease, and obesity.
Other health problems, such as excess insulin and lack of growth hormone, can also contribute to obesity.
Drugs associated with weight gain
Many medications used to treat common health problems are associated with weight gain. These medications include:
1. Antipsychotics: Many antipsychotics are associated with weight gain. However, it can also have the opposite effect.
2. Antidepressants: Many antidepressants have been associated with weight gain, including tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
3. Antiepileptic drugs: Several antiepileptic drugs, particularly valproate, carbamazepine, and gabapentin, used to treat psychiatric disorders such as seizures, neuropathic pain, and bipolar disorder, are associated with weight gain.
4. Hormonal contraceptives: Steroid hormone drugs such as prednisone and oral contraceptives can also contribute to weight gain.
5. Diabetes Medication: Diabetes medications such as insulin, thiazolidinediones, and sulfonylureas can affect weight.
Obese people should be evaluated for conditions that cause obesity and treated as soon as possible.