Truncal Obesity and Its Impact on Well-Being

Introduction:

Truncal obesity is a marker of a significant health status disturbance in a person. Truncal obesity is linked to several health problems that could result in further issues for someone obese. Before beginning truncal obesity treatment or management, it is important to address the severe causes of the condition.

What Is Truncal Obesity?

The patient's body has an apple-like appearance due to obesity. It is also known as an "apple-shaped body." Truncal obesity is also known as central obesity and abdominal obesity. Truncal obesity is characterized by accumulated extra fat in the truncal or abdominal area, which causes numerous health issues. Truncal obesity can develop in people of any age, not just those who are obese and elderly. It can also develop due to other illnesses, such as Alzheimer's.

What Are the Causes of Truncal Obesity?

Various causes of the condition are as follows:

• Diet: The main contributing factor to truncal obesity is diet. Visceral fat deposits in the abdomen when a calorie-dense meal is consumed. The following diet is shown to promote true obesity:

  • Packaged food.
  • Pork and poultry.
  • Fast foods.
  • Excessive sugar.

• Alcohol Consumption: Alcohol usage commonly contributes to weight gain and truncal obesity. Alcohol consumption damages the liver's ability to function normally. As a result, visceral and abdominal fat is deposited because the liver cannot metabolize fatty acids and triglycerides. The study establishes a link between alcohol use and male truncal obesity. It implies that men who regularly consume alcohol have a higher risk of developing truncal obesity.

• Environmental Factors: Truncal obesity can occasionally be brought on by environmental factors. People may develop fat if they reside in a community where smoking is a popular habit or if eating a high-calorie diet is a way of life.

• Other Factors: Truncal obesity is caused by a combination of causes, including a lack of exercise and steroid use. Additionally, obesity may result from visceral and abdominal fat accumulation in persons with insulin resistance.

How Is Truncal Obesity Diagnosed?

It is critical to get a precise diagnosis of truncal obesity to distinguish it from other types of obesity. The following physical tests might be carried out to confirm the diagnosis.

• Absolute Waist Measurement: It is greater than 88 centimeters for women and more than 102 centimeters for men.

• Waist-Hip Ratio: It is calculated by dividing the waist circumference by the hip circumference. For men, it must be larger than 0.9, and for women, it must be greater than 0.85.

• Waist Stature Ratio: It is calculated by dividing the height by the circumference of the waist. People under the age of 40 should have a value larger than 0.5, and adults over 50 should have a value of more than 0.6.

• Sagittal Abdominal Diameter: When standing or lying flat, the sagittal abdominal diameter is measured from the small back to the upper abdomen. For people with a normal BMI (body mass index), it should be less than 25 cm.

What Are the Health Risks Associated With Truncal Obesity?

There are various forms of obesity, and none are healthy for humans. Truncal obesity or adrenal obesity is always associated with serious health risks and problems. The following are the few main health hazards associated with truncal obesity.

• Cardiovascular Disorders: Truncal obesity significantly raises the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. A metabolic syndrome, which causes a blood lipid imbalance and other consequences like atherosclerosis and insulin resistance, is the true cause of heart disease. Deposited intra-abdominal fat is thought to constitute a significant health concern.

• Diabetes: The accumulation of fatty tissue around the waist, also known as central or truncal obesity, is the main contributing cause. Both insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus are associated with true obesity. The hormonal activity of abdominal fat causes the release of adipokines, which causes glucose intolerance. The serum level of resistance, closely related to insulin resistance, rises due to true obesity. Studies have also shown a link between type 2 diabetes mellitus and resistance levels.

• Asthma: It is brought on by abdominal fat because it limits chest expansion and tidal volume. As a result, breathing at low lung volume occurs. Due to the flattening of the diaphragms caused by obesity, people with truncal obesity are more likely to develop asthma. Individuals with this condition breathe frequently and quickly. A study revealed that 75 % of asthma patients receiving emergency care are affected by obesity.

• Alzheimer's Disease: Alzheimer's disease may be related to the high correlation between obesity and vascular disease. A study has shown that dementia and middle-aged truncal obesity are related. Dementia risk is also increased by high visceral fat without regard to total body weight.

• Other Health Disorders: Truncal obesity is connected to numerous health conditions as a symptom or a contributing factor. Besides heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and Alzheimer's disease, truncal obesity may also be associated with

  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A hormonal disease with an enlarged ovary and multiple small cysts on the outer edge of the ovary.
  • Glucose Intolerance: It indicates metabolic conditions that cause higher than normal sugar levels.
  • Dyslipidemia: Elevation of fat in the blood.
  • Osteoarthritis of the Knee: Breakdown of cartilage in joints.

Truncal obesity can be a sign of the health conditions indicated above or cause these conditions to develop.

What Is Its effect on the Well-Being of the affected people?

• Social Well-Being: Obesity can affect social well-being. Because of the weight of a person, people may experience social problems, which can keep them from exercising. They may also have communication issues, be less likely to find employment, and earn less money overall.

• Personal Well-Being: Personal fulfillment measures how people feel about themselves and their accomplishments. If physical activity was a priority in a person's life, they could not feel fulfilled. By limiting physical exercise, obesity can harm a person's mental and emotional health. A person's well-being can also be impacted by their body image and comparisons to others. Women tend to compare themselves to others more often than men, so if they are obese and do so with models, family, and friends, they may feel worse about themselves.

• Physical Well-Being: Physical health impacts how long people live. It may also be because obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, a condition affecting the heart, arteries, and blood vessels, cancers, osteoarthritis, and other health issues that can lower the quality of life.

What Is the treatment for Truncal Obesity?

• Truncal obesity can be treated in several ways, including changing one's lifestyle.

• Losing weight with an exercise program or dietary adjustment is the first step in treating truncal obesity.

• Effective weight loss is achieved with a strict diet and regular exercise. However, maintaining the workout demands consistency and timeliness if a preexisting medical problem brings on truncal obesity.

• The disease itself is first treated. For instance, truncal obesity is a common symptom in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this case, treating PCOS is the main focus of therapy, and truncal obesity will go away on its own.

How Can People Treat Truncal Obesity On Their Own?

Truncal obesity is typically managed with certain lifestyle changes and does not require medical therapy. The following steps, supported by research, may help people treat truncal obesity independently without needing many prescription drugs or medical appointments.

• Stop consuming sugar because it has a lot of calories and is made up of glucose and fructose.

• Increase the protein intake to meet the body's nutritional needs and keep the calorie intake in check.

• Limit the intake of carbohydrates.

• Increase fiber intake to maintain a quick and active metabolism.

• Truncal obesity is managed with aerobic activity like walking, swimming, etc.

Conclusion:

The buildup of visceral fat (body fat stored in the abdominal cavity) is the primary cause of truncal obesity. Truncal obesity, like other forms of obesity, carries several health hazards, including issues with the heart, asthma, diabetes, etc. Truncal obesity can be controlled and taken seriously to prevent more difficult health effects.