While the World Health Organization (WHO) defines obesity as excessive fat accumulation in the body to the extent that it impairs health, Op. Dr. Yılmaz Polat from Medicana Health Group General Surgeons said that rapidly increasing obesity has become a public health problem in the world and in our country, “Today, the development of technology causes a decrease in physical activity. Both inactivity and wrong eating habits lead to an increase in obesity cases. Obesity brings many chronic diseases with it.”
Obesity is the ratio of a person's height to weight in kilograms as a result of taking more calories than the body needs, that is, the body mass index is above 30. Stating that there are many factors affecting the formation of obesity, Medicana Konya Hospital General Surgeon Op. Dr. Yılmaz Polat emphasized that obesity is mostly a technology disease today.
“Obesity is accompanied by many diseases”
Stating that obesity, which is seen more and more, brings not only excess weight but also various diseases, Op. Dr. Yılmaz Polat said that the increased fat tissue in the body in obesity appears as excess weight, Op. Dr. Yılmaz Polat said, “Among the most important causes of obesity are wrong eating habits and inactivity. Since the development of technology today also causes a decrease in physical activity, both inactivity and wrong eating habits cause the number of obesity patients to increase. The increase in obesity brings along many chronic diseases.”
General Surgeon Op. Dr. Yılmaz Polat, who stated that obesity does not only lead to a change in body size, but also to shortness of breath, fatigue and weakness, joint and back pain can be seen in obese people, while fat accumulation is observed in the whole body, usually more intense in the abdominal region. Adding that there may also be psychological problems, Op. Dr. Yılmaz Polat noted that obesity negatively affects the self-confidence and body image of the person, which can cause depression and anxiety in many people.
Explaining that the main diseases caused by obesity are related to the cardiovascular system, Op. Dr. Yılmaz Polat said: “Obesity can cause heart diseases, heart attacks, heart failure, hypertension, increase in bad fatty acids, hyperlipidemia by affecting the circulatory system. It can also lead to brain-related problems such as stroke, gait disorders and migraine. The most important endocrinologic disease it causes is Type 2 Diabetes. In women, it can cause polycystic ovary syndrome and related infertility. It can affect the respiratory system and cause pulmonary embolism and sleep apnea. Obesity is also one of the most important causes of asocial personality disorders and depression. Obesity can also cause fatty liver, which is indispensable for life, an increase in gallstones and reflux disease. Cancer diseases, which have increased in recent years, are also associated with obesity. Especially the risk of breast, uterine and colon cancer increases with obesity.”
“Action must be taken before it is too late”
General Surgery Specialist Op. Dr. Yılmaz Polat, who noted that in the treatment of obesity; gaining the right eating habits, physical activity and exercise, behavior change therapy, drug therapy and surgical treatment methods are applied, said that obesity patients should take action before the diseases come. Polat said, “Obesity treatment should be managed by a team of physicians, dieticians, nurses, psychologists and physiotherapists. The methods used in obesity treatment vary according to the weight, age, health status and lifestyle of the individual. The priority is to gain the right eating habits for each patient. This should be supported by physical activity and exercise. Nevertheless, gastric ballooning may be recommended for patients whose body mass index does not fall below 30. This method helps to lose weight and reduces the risk of health problems caused by obesity.”
Noting that there are also surgical methods used in the treatment of obesity and that obesity surgery is an option used in cases where other treatment methods are insufficient, Op. Dr. Yılmaz Polat said, “Stomach reduction is a surgical method that reduces the amount of calories taken by reducing the size of the stomach. Gastric by-pass is a surgical method in which a part of the stomach is bypassed and directly connected to the small intestine. This method reduces the volume of the stomach and reduces the absorption of nutrients. Until the age of 60, these methods can be used in every individual.”
