Being obese is a nightmare in a woman's life, as it hides her beauty, reduces her self-confidence, negatively affects her health, and makes her vulnerable to many diseases.
Therefore, in this article, we focused on discussing the causes of obesity in women, and mentioning the most common possible treatment methods, in addition to answering some questions that inevitably occupy the minds of many women.
Causes of obesity in women
We review in detail the most important ones below Causes of obesity In women:
Unhealthy lifestyle
Following an unhealthy lifestyle is one of the most common causes of obesity in women, and this pattern includes the following points:
An unhealthy diet
Eating high-calorie foods such as: fried foods, sugars, baked goods, and soft drinks mainly contributes to obesity, due to their rapid absorption into the blood, which leads to feeling hungry quickly and the body consuming more food than it needs, which leads to the storage of body fat and the development of obesity.
Lack of exercise
Lack of physical activity and lack of exercise lead to poor body burning rate and disruption of hormone function, which increases the storage of fat in the body, thus increasing the possibility of obesity.
Not getting enough sleep
A person needs to sleep 6 to 8 hours a day, and some studies have proven the negative effect of not getting enough sleep on appetite hormones, as it increases the levels of the hormone ghrelin, which is responsible for feeling hungry, and inhibits the action of the hormone leptin, which is responsible for feeling full.
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Taking medications is one of the most important reasons Weight gain Sudden in women, and among the most famous medications that increase the possibility of weight gain are the following:
- Antidepressants.
- Antipsychotics.
- Schizophrenia medications.
- Some diabetes medications.
- Antiepileptic drugs.
- Contraceptive medications.
- Beta blockers, which are used to treat high blood pressure and some heart diseases.
- Steroids, including cortisone, hydrocortisone, prednisolone, prednisone, and others.
Genetic factors
Genetic factors may be a direct cause of obesity in women, as in Prader-Willi syndrome, which is a complex genetic disorder that leads to a constant feeling of hunger and lack of satiety.
But in many cases, genetic factors contribute indirectly to obesity, as some genetic genes affect the metabolism and storage of fat in the body and its storage areas.
In addition to the effect of some genes on increasing appetite.
Suffering from some diseases
Suffering from one of the following diseases is one of the causes of obesity in women:
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a common medical condition that results from the inability of the thyroid gland to secrete sufficient amounts of hormones, represented by thyroxine T4 and triiodothyronine (T3), which leads to a slowdown in vital processes in the body in general, and a slowdown in metabolism in particular, leading to weight gain and an increased possibility of obesity.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a common hormonal disorder, especially in the reproductive age. It occurs as a result of the ovaries secreting large amounts of male androgen hormones, causing many disease symptoms such as irregular menstruation, excessive hair growth on the body, and the appearance of acne.
Cushing's syndrome
Cushing's syndrome is a hormonal disorder that occurs as a result of increased secretion of the hormone cortisol by the adrenal gland (located above the kidneys), which leads to the accumulation of fat in the body, especially in the face, abdomen, and upper back area, in addition to irregular or cessation of the menstrual cycle, excessive hair growth in the body and face, and other symptoms.
Hormonal changes
Hormonal changes that occur at different stages of life are one of the causes of obesity in women, and the most important of these changes are:
Pregnancy
During the months of pregnancy, a woman's body experiences major hormonal changes, which increases the risk of obesity, as estrogen and progesterone levels increase and androgen levels decrease, which increases appetite and the body's tendency to store fat.
Pre-menopausal stage
Menopause is a natural stage that middle-aged women go through, between 45 and 55 years of age, and is characterized by the permanent cessation of the menstrual cycle. This stage is usually preceded by some hormonal changes in the body, the most important of which is a decrease in estrogen levels.
Which leads to many psychological and physical changes, the most common of which is sudden weight gain in women, especially in the abdomen and thighs.
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Harmful effects of obesity for women
Obesity negatively affects the psychological state of women, and often leads to a loss of self-confidence, in addition to its negative impact on health, as it increases the possibility of contracting many diseases, including:
- Type 2 diabetes.
- High harmful cholesterol in the blood.
- High blood pressure.
- Cardiovascular diseases.
- Sleep apnea.
- Spine and joint pain.
- Liver disease.
- Gallbladder diseases.
- Delayed pregnancy.
- Exposure to serious complications during pregnancy.
- Suffering from many types of cancer.
Treatment of obesity in women
There are several options to get rid of the causes of obesity in women, and below are some suggested options.
- Exercising regularly, as it increases the body’s burning rate.
- Follow a healthy diet, and it is preferable to seek help from a nutritionist, to determine the appropriate diet for the condition and give distinctive results.
- Take some medical drugs according to your doctor's advice. These drugs are used as part of a comprehensive treatment program that includes following a healthy diet and exercising.
- Resorting to one of the modern medical interventions such as the smart capsule gastric balloon, which contributes significantly to weight loss.
- Undergoing one of the bariatric surgeries, such as gastric bypass surgery, provided that the body mass index exceeds 35 kg/m².
What weight is considered obesity?
Obesity is diagnosed when a body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher. BMI is measured by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters. (kg/m2).
How do I know that obesity is due to hormones?
The doctor diagnoses that obesity is due to hormones by knowing the patient’s medical history and the symptoms associated with obesity, as it is usually accompanied by many pathological symptoms such as: hair loss, feeling tired, exhausted, and the concentration of fat in a specific area of the body such as the abdomen, in addition to conducting a careful examination of the levels of hormones associated with weight gain in the blood.
What is the hormone responsible for weight gain in women?
There are many hormones associated with weight gain in women, including estrogen, insulin, cortisol, ghrelin, and leptin.
Now break free from the restrictions of obesity and enjoy your fitness
After we learned about the causes of obesity in women and its severe harms, we recommend that you undergo an urgent medical examination to find out the reason for your obesity and the optimal treatment for your condition.
in Al Moosa Specialist HospitalWe include a distinguished group of doctors in various specialties, and we provide all the examinations and modern medical techniques that you may need, to guarantee you a comfortable and distinctive treatment experience.
For inquiries and to book an appointment, contact us now via the numbers shown on our website.