Obesity has become one of the common and major health issues around the globe. In recent years, changes in food and activity habits have made it easier to gain weight and much harder to lose weight. A concerning trend in lifestyle-related health risks is highlighted by the National Family Health Survey, which found that 24% of Indian women and 23% of Indian men are already overweight or obese. The urgency of tackling obesity as a significant public health issue is highlighted by the Lancet Study, which estimates that, if the current trend continues, nearly one-third of the nation’s population may be obese by 2050.
Now the important part is that the implications of obesity are much broader than merely a cosmetic problem. Instead, obesity is a serious medical condition that greatly increases the likelihood of several chronic diseases, particularly diabetes. Understanding the connection between obesity and diabetes and how to manage weight appropriately is critical to improving health status for our communities.
What is the link between Obesity and Diabetes?Excess body fat around the stomach can lead to resistance to insulin, it is a condition in which the body cannot utilise insulin properly. Insulin resistance also means that the body develops an increasing level of blood sugar. When the blood sugar level remains high over a long enough period, the person is said to have type 2 diabetes. According to studies by the World Health Organisation (WHO), obese individuals have up to 80% more likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes than individuals in a healthy weight category. This makes obesity not just a risk factor but also a key driver in the rising diabetes epidemic worldwide. Studies also suggest that bariatric surgery can reduce protein in urine and improve blood glucose control, blood pressure and body weight, which lowers the progression of diabetic neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy and improves overall mortality of the patient. What are the ways to achieve weight loss?Sustained healthy weight loss is not based on intense diets or extreme behavioural changes but involves living healthily on a whole-foods lifestyle and gradually reducing body fat. The right eating patterns provide the body with essential nutrition while getting rid of extra fat. With healthy eating and exercise habits, the habits you form during your day and week will complement your long-term change process. These include:
A balanced lifestyle: Consume whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein meats, and healthy fats. Avoid processed and unhealthy sugary foods.Regular exercise: Participate in at least 30 minutes of correct types of activity – walking, cycling, yoga, and weight training are therapeutic for healthy weight reduction.Getting enough sleep: Quality sleep of 7 -8 hours each night helps to suppress cravings, maintain metabolism, and reduce excess energy intake.Learning how to manage stress: Meditation, breathing techniques, and other relaxation techniques help dissipate unwanted emotions resulting in chronic or habitual emotional eating.Eating mindfully: Maintain control and reduce portion sizes, slow down-eat smaller and slowly to avoid overeating.What can be done in severe cases?Bariatric surgery is an option for people struggling with severe obesity who have failed to lose weight with changes in lifestyle alone. Bariatric surgery includes a variety of surgical procedures that change the anatomy of the digestive tract and the metabolism of the system in order to control either how much food a person can take in or to limit the nutrient absorption into their body, thereby producing marked weight loss. This surgery is recommended for people with BMI > 30 if there are obesity related comorbidities specially in the case of type 2 diabetes. For people with BMI > 35, bariatric surgery is recommended even in the absence of any comorbidities. For patients with diabetes, bariatric surgery can help in controlling diabetes in 70-80% case and provides improvement to the rest without the use of anti-diabetic medications. This surgery not only helps in the remission of diabetes, but problems like liver cirrhosis, liver failure, infertility, PCOD, chronic kidney disease, sleep apnea, can also be resolvedObesity and diabetes are two health conditions that are rooted together. But each can be recognized earlier and diagnosed. Whether through lifestyle changes, such as eating healthier or increasing activity level, or through methods of intervention such as bariatric surgery, we need to think of weight management as a priority for diabetes control.By: Dr. Sandeep Aggarwal, Chairman – Manipal Institute Of Minimal Access, Bariatric, GI & Robotic Surgery, Manipal Hospitals Dwarka
