Specialist in Koblenz on the consequences of obesity
Obesity almost always causes secondary diseases, warns endocrinologist in Koblenz
KOBLENZ. fat, but healthy? In the opinion of Prof Dr med Dr h.c. Christian Wüster, endocrinologist and metabolism expert, this is a myth that almost never materialises in practice. ‘Almost all morbidly obese people suffer from certain secondary symptoms such as high blood pressure, joint pain, sleep apnoea or diabetes,’ confirms the specialist, who also treats obesity patients from the Koblenz region at his Hormone and Metabolism Centre. A look at the statistics shows just how widespread the problem is: 21 per cent of adults in Germany are considered obese. Around 15 per cent of children and adolescents are overweight.
Specialist for Koblenz: Obesity as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and cancer
Obesity is very often accompanied by what is known as metabolic syndrome. Specialist Prof Dr Wüster explains: ‘This is a combination of certain problems and risk factors such as high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels or lipid metabolism disorders.’ Patients with metabolic syndrome are considered a risk group for cardiovascular diseases such as strokes or heart attacks.
This lowers quality of life and reduces life expectancy. According to studies, 88 per cent of all obese people show signs of metabolic syndrome. ‘If you don’t have any symptoms at the moment, you can develop them in the course of your life,’ warns endocrinologist Prof Dr Wüster.
Specialist for Koblenz explains that obesity in older people has its own rules
When should overweight people start losing weight from a medical point of view? According to the guidelines of the German Society for Obesity, weight loss is indicated from a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg / m2. If the BMI is between 25 and 29.9 kg / m2, there is only a need for action if those affected also suffer from other health problems such as diabetes, which are triggered or exacerbated by being overweight. However, each patient must be assessed individually: ‘Cancer patients may lose too much muscle mass when they lose weight. Even at an advanced age, the benefits of weight reduction are questionable, as small reserves can even increase the life expectancy of the very elderly,’ points out specialist Prof Dr Wüster.
