Beware of respiratory arrest due to obesity.

The "war" against obesity is predicted to be a long and seemingly endless one, given the many contributing factors from modern, busy lifestyles.

Obesity not only affects aesthetics but is also considered a chronic disease that can lead to many other health problems.

On World Obesity Awareness Day (March 4th every year), Novo Nordisk Vietnam, in collaboration with specialist doctors, organized an information update for the press on obesity in Ho Chi Minh City on March 4th.

In his presentation, Associate Professor, Doctor Tran Quang Nam, Head of the Endocrinology Department at the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City, cited the case of a male patient in his 30s, weighing 120 kg and with a waist circumference of 105 cm. According to Dr. Nam, due to the nature of his work, this patient often sat for long hours. The patient only came to the doctor when complications had already developed.

By citing the above example, Dr. Nam wanted to emphasize that in modern, busy life in big cities, many people sit at computers all day, hastily eat high-fat fast food, and have little time for exercise.

According to Dr. Nam, obesity is related to genetic factors, but diet and exercise play a decisive role. Once obese, it can easily lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, stress, and depression; and this stress can then cause eating disorders, further exacerbating obesity.

Diet and exercise play a crucial role in obesity.

PHOTO: KV

Dr. Pham Thi Minh Chau, Department of Psychiatry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, added: there is an intertwined relationship between obesity and mental health. Obese people often experience stress and low self-esteem, leading to depression; when depressed, it affects neurotransmitters, causing eating disorders – leading to overeating, lack of control, and further obesity. Obese people have twice the risk of depression compared to normal-weight individuals.

Dr. Chau also shared that many mothers raising young children face pressure from both their mothers-in-law and their own mothers to feed their children a lot to make them chubby, leading to many children becoming overweight or obese… "Therefore, the fight against obesity is far from over and continues," Dr. Chau said.

According to the World Obesity Federation, more than 1 billion people are currently living with obesity, and it is estimated that over 50% of the world's population will be affected by obesity by 2035. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, the obesity rate is approximately 19.5% of the population, equivalent to about 20 million people.

The risks caused by obesity

According to Dr. Tran Quang Nam, obesity is considered a chronic disease worldwide, not only affecting the quality of life but also potentially leading to many serious health consequences and causing a global socio -economic burden.

Associate Professor, Doctor Tran Quang Nam presented his paper.

PHOTO: CONTRIBUTOR

Specifically, obesity increases fat in the liver, heart, and intestines, causing metabolic disorders that lead to coronary artery disease, hypertension, stroke, osteoarthritis, and sleep apnea…

Notably, according to Dr. Nam, about one-third of obese people don't consider themselves obese; about three-fifths try to lose weight on their own before seeing a doctor. The majority seek medical attention when complications arise (such as sleep disorders, sleep apnea, etc.), or because of other illnesses.

Therefore, according to Dr. Nam, the "war" against obesity requires the joint efforts of the community, the media, and even healthcare workers and doctors.

Doctors also warn that some people, in their desire to lose weight quickly, resort to improper methods, which can negatively impact their health.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/coi-chung-ngung-tho-do-beo-phi-185260304142940996.htm