Understanding obesity as a chronic, relapsing disease

Learning objectives

You will learn:

• Obesity is a complex, chronic disease characterised by abnormal or excessive body fat that impairs health, increases the risk of long-term complications and reduces lifespan
•  Causes of obesity are multifactorial; they include genetic, metabolic, behavioural and environmental factors
• Body mass index (BMI) is a useful but limited tool to classify obesity. The Edmonton Obesity Staging System classifies obesity severity based on medical, physical and psychological impairments to identify individuals at high risk who may benefit from more intensive weight management
• Three main brain areas – the hypothalamus, mesolimbic area and frontal lobe – work together to control hunger, pleasure from eating and executive function. Disruptions in these systems can lead to overeating and difficulty managing weight
• The concept of ‘sick fat’ (adiposopathy) highlights how dysfunctional fat tissue drives inflammation and organ damage