Tutorial 8 Obesity Flashcards
What do you think is the key reason obesity is on the increase?
- Increased energy intake (from food and drink)
- Portion sizes have increased
- Decreased physical activities
How many Australians do you think are now classified as obese? What percentage of Australia is clinically obese?
- More than 4 million Australians are classified as obese (BMI over 30)
- Approx. 18% of Australians are obese
What do you think the cost of obesity-related disease is in Australia each year?
$58 billion
How does obesity increase the risk of cardiovascular disease?
Being obese puts you at risk of:
- Hypertension
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Atherosclerosis
- 21% of ischaemic heart disease is thought to be attributable to a BMI of above 25
How does obesity increase your risk of high blood pressure?
- Obesity can lead to an increase in:
a. cardiac output - blood vessels associated with adipose tissue
b. blood volume
c. arterial resistance - atherosclerosis - Increased insulin secretion also:
a. induces thickening of blood vessels leading to thickening and hardening thus increasing BP
b. increased CO as increased adrenalin in secretion
c. increased reabsorption of water and salt thus increasing volume and BP
How does obesity put you at risk of increased high blood cholesterol?
- Very high blood levels of cholesterol can also increase the risk of heart disease
- High cholesterol, whether high LDLs or HDLs is a risk factor for CVD but LDLs are the most problematic
- LDLs stick to artery walls and cause plague build up
How does obesity put you at risk of diabetes (Type 2)?
- Obesity is probably the most important risk factor for diabetes
- Obesity promotes insulin secretion through inappropriate activation of gluconeogenesis (liver makes fuel which usually only occur during fasting)
- The type of diet that makes you obese probably also cause dramatic swings in blood glucose levels which further promotes insulin resistance as the cell receptors become less sensitive to insulin
How does obesity put you at risk of chronic kidney disease?
- Obesity is associated with the early onset of:
a. glomerulomegaly
b. hemodynamic changes of a hyperfiltering kidney
c. increased albuminuria - In patients with sustained obesity, glomerulosclerosis can develop presenting with massive proteinuria
- In addition to this, diabetes (the No. 1 cause of CKD) can increase damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys
How does obesity put you at risk of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease?
- An obese person is three times more likely to have GORD
- Abdominal fat puts pressure on the lower oesophageal sphincter leading to reflux
- This can progress to oesophageal cancer
How does obesity put you at risk of fatty liver disease?
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is tightly linked with obesity
- Usually asymptomatic and only detected on a blood test with elevated AST and ALT results
- Fatty liver (steatosis) can progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and then progress to cirrhosis of the liver
How does obesity put you at risk of lymphoedema?
- Obesity can cause and worsen lymphedema
2. Especially in the lower extremities where pressure from adipose tissue blocks the return of lymph
How does obesity put you at risk of cellulitis?
- Cellulitis is often caused by an infection of the tissues beneath the skin with either a group of streptococcus or staphylococcus aureus bacteria
- This infection occurs via a small cut, graze etc. in the skin
- Obesity can increase lymphedema and this leads to the development of cellulitis
How does obesity put you at risk of stroke?
- Diabetes is an individual risk factor of stroke
- Obesity increases the risk of stroke because excess body fat can lead to:
a. difficulty in blood flow
b. increase in blockages - Both of these factors increase the risk of stroke
How does obesity put you at risk of Pickwickian syndrome?
- Also known at Obesity Hyperventilation syndrome
- Is a form of sleep apnoea
- It occurs when the patient’s obesity puts excessive strain on the pulmonary system
- Individuals with sleep apnoea are at greater risk of high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and stroke
How does obesity put you at risk of depression?
- Depression and obesity are linked
- People who are depressed often become obese and vice versa
- Treatment such as exercise and stress reduction can help to treat both depression and obesity