Obesitology

Obesity is a medical discipline that deals with the study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of obesity, a chronic disease characterized by excessive body fat deposition. This discipline focuses on a comprehensive approach to obesity as a serious health problem that can lead to a number of complications such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and others.

Causes of obesity

Obesity is a multifactorial disease that results from a combination of genetic, metabolic, behavioural and environmental factors. The main causes include:

  • Unbalanced diet rich in calories and poor in nutrients
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Genetic predisposition
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Psychological factorssuch as stress or emotional overeating

Diagnostics

The body mass index (BMI) is most commonly used to diagnose obesity and helps to estimate the degree of overweight or obesity. Other methods include waist circumference measurement, body composition analysis and blood tests that can reveal associated metabolic disorders.

Treatment and prevention

The treatment of obesity involves different approaches:

  1. Lifestyle change - includes dietary modification and increased physical activity.
  2. Pharmacotherapy - in certain cases, medications that promote weight loss may be deployed.
  3. Bariatric Surgery - surgical solutions for patients with severe obesity when other methods fail.

Prevention of obesity is essential and consists of education for a healthy lifestyle from an early age, promotion of healthy eating and regular physical activity.

Obesitology

The role of the obesitologist

An obesitologist is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of obesity. His or her role is to provide expert guidance, develop a personalized treatment plan and monitor the patient's progress. The obesitologist works with other professionals such as dietitians, physiotherapists and psychologists to provide the most comprehensive care possible.

Obesity medicine is key in the fight against obesity because it offers structured and science-based treatments that not only help reduce weight, but also improve a patient's overall health and quality of life.