Obesity and certain endocrine disorders can be interlinked
PARTNER CONTENT: In recent years, obesity has emerged as a significant health issue across the globe, with the UAE also witnessing many individuals struggling to manage their weight effectively.
While environmental and lifestyle factors such as an improper diet and a lack of exercise are often the primary culprits, there are certain endocrine disorders which can also contribute towards obesity.
Dr Shoib Ur Rehman, Endocrinology Consultant at HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center in Abu Dhabi sheds light on the interconnected nature of obesity and hormonal imbalances contributing to this epidemic.
Conditions such as Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are known to trigger significant weight gain and require specific medical intervention.
He further explains how understanding these connections not only aids in effective treatment but also empowers patients to manage their health proactively.
Is obesity the most prominent symptom of an endocrine-related disorder? what are some other signs to look out for?
Obesity and certain endocrine disorders can be interlinked, whereby obesity can eventually trigger the early onset of certain endocrine related disorders. For some of them, the first manifestation is weight gain.
However, only 10-15 per cent of the patients that I see are obese owing to hormonal imbalances or endocrine diseases.
Some signs to look out for are central obesity, with red stretch marks on the belly (striae) as it could mean excess cortisol hormone production.
Another instance is when women notice hair growth or acne on their face which could be symptoms of high testosterone (male hormone) levels in women with PCOS; whereby these patients find it hard to lose weight due to insulin resistance.
In the case of under active thyroid gland, along with weight gain, patients also usually complain of excessive fatigue, thinning of hair, cold intolerance.
Clinical history, physical examination and laboratory tests are used to confirm the diagnosis on whether the weight gain is related to sedentary lifestyle and excess calorie intake, or if there are other contributing factors.
Are there any key differences in how endocrine-related obesity manifests in men versus women?
In men, we see central adiposity as compared to women, who tend to have more fat around the hips and leg areas. Hormones like testosterone and estrogen also play a part in making choices of food by both genders.
For example, women are fond of sweet and carbohydrate-rich foods, whereas men prefer fatty food and this then manifests differently in their fat distribution, physical appearance and lipid profile.
How important is early diagnosis in combating this issue?
It is extremely important that we start screening from childhood as many kids are developing obesity at alarming rate.
However, if you control weight gain at early stage, it can prevent both children and adults from developing a lot of metabolic problems such as Hypertension, Diabetes and Hyperlipidemia later in life.
Can you tell us a little more about the services offered at Healthplus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center?
When it comes to obesity, patient education is very crucial as it is a chronic disease and requires a multidisciplinary approach.
The first thing to address is lifestyle intervention, for which we have dieticians and diabetes educators who can guide patients in making right diet choices.
We also have psychologists for counselling patients who have psychological disorders like depression, body dysmorphia and addressing those is important for physical and mental health.
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Along with that there is a team of endocrinologists who have expertise in treating obesity holistically and offer regular follow up to monitor the progress and metabolic profile.
All these services are provided under one roof which makes the patient journey towards weight loss smooth and sustainable.
In some cases, we also make referrals to surgeons for bariatric surgery if certain criteria are met.
What are some of the latest treatment options available?
The Class of drugs GLP1 /GIP receptor agonist was FDA-approved earlier this year for treatment of obesity and works by blocking the appetite centre in the brain. Most patients can achieve up to 20 per cent weight loss with these medications.
It is important to note that the latest weight loss medicines should only be used under the supervision of a qualified physician after ruling out any contra-indications, and the treatment is mutually agreed upon by the patient and physicians.
What are some lifestyle or dietary recommendations you could suggest to mitigate obesity as a larger problem?
I think we should target all ages but place special emphasis on children. In schools we need to raise awareness in children to cut down on soft sugary drinks and carbohydrate-rich snacks.
Teachers and school staff can act as educators with training provided by dieticians to the kids about healthy food choices. These choices, if implemented early in life, lead to permanent healthy eating habits.
In general, we recommend that every person have four to five portions of vegetables and fruits per day and increase intake of nuts, proteins, lean meat, whole grains; and reduce sugar, fatty food intake.
If you want to lose roughly one kilogram per week, you need to have a calorie deficit of around 500 to 1000 calories per day. Controlling portion sizes and making healthy food choices can make a big difference in achieving and sustaining weight loss.
Physical activity of a minimum of 30 minutes brisk walking per day is also recommended to help improve your metabolism and get in shape.
For more information, visit Health Plus
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