According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity is a chronic and complex disease which affects nearly one in six adults. Details with Dr. Dominique Boute, endocrinologist at La Louvière private hospital (Ramsay Health) located at Lille (North), on the occasion of March 4 World Obesity Day.
Worldwide, more than one billion adults are overweight, 500 million of whom are considered obese. More than 40 million children under the age of five are overweight. ” In France, obesity (chronic, multifactorial and complex pathology) concerns nearly one in six adults (i.e. 17% of those over 18). Statistics on the rise, in all age categories (especially since the Covid-19 health crisis and successive confinements) », says Dr Dominique Boute, endocrinologist at the Liberal center for the management of obesity (Celiobe) of the private hospital La Louvière, a multidisciplinary center offering personalized support at the nutritional, physical and psychological level.
A complex pathology favoring the appearance of associated comorbidities
A pathology characterized by excess body fat, obesity is diagnosed by a medical specialist using the Body Mass Index (BMI), calculated by dividing weight by height squared and classified as follows:
- BMI between 25.0 and 29.9 : overweight,
- BMI between 30.0 and 34.9: moderate obesity,
- BMI between 35.0 and 39.9: severe obesity,
- BMI over 40: morbid obesity.
Against a background of genetic predisposition, environmental changes such as increased consumption of processed foodsthe lack of physical activity and the chronic stress are some of the causes associated with obesity. There psychological dimension, is not sufficiently taken into account. “ Patient victims childhood traumatic events or attachment disruption have a higher risk of being obese than the rest of the population » insists the doctor, explaining that the emotional accompaniment integrating the history of the person is essential in the management of the disease. ” We cannot sum up the person to their weight without worrying regarding their history and all the distress that can hide behind the kilos. The stigma faced by people with obesity only makes the disease worse ».
Obesity leads to many complications. In some patients, it can trigger the Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and some types of cancer, not to mention the psychological factors associated with stigma. It is a pathology that reduces the quality and life expectancy of those who suffer from it, hence the importance of its management. Its treatment includes a nutritional, psychological and sports rehabilitation, which may be associated with taking medication. In the most serious cases, surgical treatment (bariatric surgery) may be indicated.
The importance of a world day to raise awareness
Celebrated on 4 marsWorld Obesity Day aims to raise awareness and inform the population on this pathology considered as a global epidemic.
« To change the look and improve the care of obese patients, La Louvière private hospital foresees an open day which will take place next May, on the occasion of a second day dedicated to the fight once morest this diseasenamely the European Obesity Day (May 18) concludes Dr. Dominique Boute.
