Obesity and metabolism – specialist for Trier informs
Specialist for Trier: Obesity can be caused by metabolic disease
TRIER. As a specialist in endocrinology, Prof Dr med Dr h.c. Christian Wüster has long been in favour of structured and interdisciplinary treatment for patients with obesity. ‘Patients with obesity are often dismissed as people with a lifestyle problem. However, obesity can be caused by metabolic diseases or tumours. This makes it all the more important to provide comprehensive support to patients with morbid obesity and to clarify the causes,’ emphasises Prof. Wüster. He heads the Hormone and Metabolism Centre in Mainz and is also the contact person for patients from the Trier region on the subject of obesity and metabolism.
Specialist for the Trier region carries out exclusion diagnosis for obesity
Prof. Wüster carries out an endocrinological exclusion diagnosis on his patients with obesity. The aim is to rule out metabolic diseases or tumours as the cause of obesity or to treat them specifically. An endocrinological exclusion diagnosis should always be carried out if the cause of the obesity cannot be clearly identified. This is because obesity can have many causes.
Lifestyle, certain diseases and diet certainly play a major role in the development of morbid obesity. However, obesity can also develop as a result of disorders of sugar and fat metabolism. More rarely, hormonal factors can also be relevant in the development of obesity. These include, for example, hypothyroidism or hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex. Obesity can also be caused by tumours, operations, trauma or radiotherapy of the hypothalamus in connection with cancer therapy.
Specialist for Trier: DMP is an opportunity for better care of patients with obesity
A Desease Management Programme (DMP) for patients with obesity is currently being developed. Prof Wüster supports the efforts to provide better interdisciplinary medical care for people with obesity in the future. ‘Morbid obesity is a chronic disease. Those affected usually need lifelong support and medical assistance. Better care for this patient group will also reduce the burden on the healthcare system. This is because obese patients have a high risk of developing secondary diseases,’ emphasises Prof. Wüster.
