This study emphasizes how crucial it is to comprehend precisely how obesity impacts the development of concomitant disorders in various ethnic groups and genders to provide patients with more effective counselling and care.
Notwithstanding the health risks and higher mortality linked to the diseases and maladies that go along with it, obesity is increasing globally (comorbidities). The comorbidities of obesity (such as diabetes) are well established, but there hasn’t been much research into the connection between the severity of obesity and the occurrence of these diseases.
This study by Project Professor TAMORI Yoshikazu* et AL research .’s team demonstrates how the prevalence of the three most prevalent comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) differs between men and women depending on the degree of obesity. An analysis of data from over 11,000 Japanese seniors living in Kobe City revealed that being obese raised a man’s probability of developing all three diseases.
Although increased obesity in women only marginally increased the risk of dyslipidemia, it dramatically increased the chances of diabetes and hypertension.
Obesity Causes Diabetes And Hypertension
According to the findings, losing weight can help prevent diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in men as well as diabetes and hypertension in women. Yet, to lower dyslipidemia in women, weight loss alone is insufficient.
This study emphasizes how crucial it is to comprehend precisely how obesity impacts the development of concomitant disorders in various ethnic groups and genders to provide patients with more effective counselling and care.
On February 9th, 2023, these findings were initially released in Scientific Reports.
Department of Social/Community Medicine and Health Science, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Division of Creative Health Promotion.
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Key Points
- A study of 11,000 seniors in Kobe City found that 63.8% had dyslipidemia, 41.0% had hypertension, and 9.7% had diabetes (*1).
- The more obese the patient, the higher the risk of developing diabetes and hypertension. Yet, even among people who were of normal weight, the incidence of dyslipidemia was considerable and steadily rose along with the degree of obesity.
- Increased obesity in men was associated with a similar increase in the chance of developing each of the 3 diseases. The likelihood of having dyslipidemia climbed gradually, reaching its highest level in people who were only mildly fat, even though rising obesity considerably raised the risk of diabetes and hypertension in women.
Research History
Obesity shortens healthy life expectancy, lowers the quality of life, and can exacerbate several diseases. Arteriosclerosis, which is connected to the onset of life-threatening illnesses including strokes and heart disease, is brought on by obesity-related conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia.
Even if they are only somewhat obese, people of East Asian ancestry (including Japanese people) are more likely to develop metabolic problems. However, an in-depth investigation into the precise connection between the severity of obesity and the prevalence of comorbidities has not yet been done. In affluent nations like Japan, 65 is frequently referred to as the beginning of old age. While it’s crucial to avoid getting overweight as you age, it’s also critical to avoid getting too thin or underweight, as these conditions can promote sarcopenia and frailty.
Almost 11,000 people from Kobe City who are 65 years old participated in this study, and the researchers revealed the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in BMI. They also compared the results with those from patients who fell within the normal weight range to examine the risks of developing these diseases at various levels of obesity.
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Research Techniques
Data from 65-year-old Kobe City residents enrolled in Japan’s National Health Insurance were used to assess the prevalence of three obesity-related comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia) at various BMI levels. Also, the researchers compared the risk of disease happening at higher BMI levels to those of normal weight and analysed it (disease risk).
Diabetes 9.7%, hypertension 41.0%, and dyslipidemia 63.8% were the most common diseases (Figure 1). All of these diseases saw an increase in prevalence along with the level of obesity, but diabetes and hypertension in particular saw a sharp rise as obesity increased.
On the other hand, a significant prevalence of dyslipidemia (60%) was discovered even in the group of people who were of normal weight, and the prevalence of dyslipidemia continuously rose along with the progression of obesity. These patterns were more obvious in females.
Higher BMI was associated with a higher risk of all 3 diseases for men of disease risk. Contrarily, for women, the risk of diabetes and hypertension increased dramatically with BMI, but the risk of dyslipidemia only modestly increased, peaking in the group with low levels of obesity.
FAQs
What are the dangers of obesity?
Obesity shortens healthy life expectancy, lowers the quality of life, and can exacerbate several diseases.