Bariatric surgeon and doctor of medical sciences Vladimir Samoilov emphasized in an interview with RT that adipose tissue secretes substances such as cytokines and adipocins, which can cause systemic inflammation, which contributes to the development of rheumatoid arthritis and similar diseases.
“Excess weight puts enormous pressure on the human musculoskeletal system. The back is the first to suffer, due to the shift in the center of gravity. For example, when most of the weight is concentrated in the abdominal area, the spine is forced to bend strongly, which leads to lower back pain. The knees and hip joints also suffer, since they take on the load when walking and, accordingly, become deformed due to excess weight,” the doctor emphasized.
Samoilov noted that not only extra pounds put serious pressure on the joints, but also the adipose tissue itself, since it releases substances (cytokines and adipocins) that can cause systemic inflammation.
This, the expert explained, increases pain in muscles and joints and contributes to the development of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
According to the specialist, obesity also affects the internal organs of the abdominal cavity.
“Disrupted metabolism provokes increased production of bile, pancreatic enzymes, causing inflammation of the pancreas. Obesity also affects the functioning of the gallbladder, increasing the risk of stones and the development of cholecystitis (inflammation of the organ). This causes intense abdominal pain, which can radiate to the back (girdle pain),” he warned.
As the doctor explained, obesity in general leads to a number of disorders in the body.
“Obesity is a chronic relapsing disease that leads to the development of concomitant diseases: type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, heart problems and even infertility,” Samoilov added.
RT’s interlocutor explained that it is important to stop the development of the disease at the stage of excess weight and, if possible, not to let the situation progress to obesity.
“To understand whether a person is overweight, it is worth focusing on the body mass index (BMI). You can calculate it yourself using a special online calculator. If the BMI is above 25 and below 30, then the person is overweight. And it is important at this stage to start losing weight: exercise regularly, normalize your diet and eating behavior, and consult a nutritionist if necessary,” the doctor says.
But if obesity could not be avoided, you should not delay a visit to the doctor, the expert warned.
Modern treatment methods involve a comprehensive approach to treating the disease with the participation of a multidisciplinary team: a psychologist, endocrinologist, nutritionist and bariatric surgeon, he concluded.
Earlier, Ekaterina Demyanovskaya, a candidate of medical sciences and an expert at the Gemotest laboratory, told RT in an interview what causes insomnia and what to do to feel alert.
Source: russian.rt.com
