Obesity - Is it a Disease?

Is obesity a disease?

Obesity is the excess accumulation of fatty tissue in the body. It occurs as a result of a long-term positive energy balance, when the intake of calories from food exceeds energy expenditure.

But can obesity be considered a disease? It all depends on the degree of obesity and its impact on health. Slight excess weight in itself is not a pathology. However, with morbid obesity, when the body mass index exceeds 40 kg/m2, there are serious metabolic disorders, damage to internal organs and systems, which gives every reason to consider such obesity as a chronic disease.

People with morbid obesity have a sharply increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, degenerative joint changes, sleep apnea, and even some types of cancer. Excess weight negatively affects the functioning of the heart and lungs, leading to shortness of breath and reduced exercise tolerance.

Thus, severe obesity is accompanied by a complex of metabolic, functional and structural disorders in the body, which sharply worsen the quality and life expectancy. This gives every reason to consider morbid obesity as a chronic disease requiring active therapeutic measures.