Excessive abdominal or visceral fat, known as truncal obesity, is associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk.
Truncal obesity is when a person has more fat concentrated around the center of their body, such as their stomach and abdomen, than their extremities. It is also known as central obesity, centripetal obesity, and abdominal obesity.
Obesity and the metabolic syndrome contributes to a systemic pro-inflammatory and oxidized milieu leading to arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction.
If BMI is 25.0 to 29.9. individual is overweight and not obese.
There are three classes of obesity as follows:
Class 1 low-risk obesity, if BMI is 30.0 to 34.9.
Class 2 moderate-risk obesity, if BMI is 35.0 to 39.9.
Class 3 high-risk obesity, if BMI is equal to or greater than 40.0.
In India, the obesity rate increased from 1.2% in 1990 to 9.8% in 2022 for women and 0.5% to 5.4% in 2022 for men.
Truncal obesity, also known as abdominal or central obesity, refers to a type of obesity characterized by an accumulation of excess fat around the abdomen and trunk, rather than the extremities.
Truncal obesity is the buildup of fat predominantly in the midsection, including the stomach and abdomen.
Other terms used to describe this condition include abdominal obesity, central obesity, and centripetal obesity.
Causes of truncal obesity :
Truncal obesity can be caused by several factors, including:
(1) Genetics: Genetics play a role in determining how your body stores fat .
Yes, obesity has a strong genetic component, with studies estimating the heritability of obesity to be between 40% and 70%, but it's also influenced by environmental factors.
Several studies located a region on chromosome 7q31 that was found to contain the leptin gene, mutations in which cause severe obesity syndromes.
(2) Environmental Factors:
While genes influence body weight, environmental factors like diet, lifestyle, and physical activity also play a crucial role, impacting how our bodies store fat and regulate metabolism.
(3) Diet: Consuming a high-calorie diet and foods high in sugar and fat can contribute to excessive fat buildup around the abdomen. Excess consumption of high-calorie foods, particularly those high in sugar and fats, along with a sedentary lifestyle, can contribute significantly to the accumulation of fat around the abdomen and waist.Potato chips, sugar-sweetened drinks, processed meats and unprocessed red meat were each linked to weight gain of about a pound or more. Eating more french fries led to an average gain of over 3 pounds. Eating more refined grains and sweets or desserts led to about half a pound of weight gain.
(4) Sedentary Lifestyle:
Sedentary behavior along with a lack of moderate vigorous physical activity is negatively associated with obesity-related co morbidities.
A 150–300 min of moderate
or 75–150 min of vigorous aerobic physical activity per day is considered to be ideal for a healthy lifestyle in adults up to 64 years of age
If you are not active enough, you do not use the energy provided by the food you eat, and the extra energy you consume is stored by the body as fat.
The consequences of sedentary lifestyle,:
Studies have linked being inactive with being overweight and obese, Type II diabetes, some types of cancer, and early death.
Sitting for long periods is thought to slow the metabolism, which affects the body's ability to regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and break down body fat.
Lack of physical activity can also contribute to the accumulation of fat in the abdominal area.
Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are interconnected, with the latter being a major risk factor for developing the former and contributing to various health issues, including heart disease, Type II diabetes, and certain cancers.
Here's a breakdown of the relationship and the consequences.
Sedentary life style leads to Energy Imbalance:
A sedentary lifestyle means spending less time being physically active, which leads to burning fewer calories and potentially gaining weight if the calories consumed exceed the energy expenditure.
Sedentary lifestyle Increases risk of obesity;
A sedentary lifestyle, even with adequate physical activity, can significantly increase the risk of obesity compared to a more active lifestyle.
Beyond Physical Activity:
It's not only about not exercising enough; a sedentary lifestyle, characterized by prolonged sitting or lying down, has its own physiological effects, contributing to health problems independent of a lack of physical activity.
Health Risks associated with Sedentary Lifestyles and Obesity:
(1) Cardiovascular Disease: A sedentary lifestyle is a key risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure.
(2);Metabolic Problems: It can lead to insulin resistance, high cholesterol, and Type II diabetes.
(3) Cancer: Increased risk of certain cancers like colon, breast, and uterine cancers.
(4) Musculoskeletal Issues: Prolonged sitting can weaken bones and muscles, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and falls.
(5) Mental Health issues: Sedentary lifestyles can contribute to depression, anxiety, and decreased quality of life.
How to Address it:
(A) Increase Physical Activity:
Aim for regular moderate to vigorous aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, jogging, cycling, or swimming.
(B) Reduce Sedentary behavior:
Break up long periods of sitting, stand up and move around frequently, and incorporate more active activities into your daily routine.
(C) Make Healthy Food Choices:
Focus on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, while limiting processed foods, sugary drinks, and unhealthy fats.
(D);Seek Professional Help:
If you have concerns about your weight or health, consult with a doctor or registered dietitian to develop a personalized plan.
Hormonal Factors responsible for abdominal obesity;
Conditions like Cushing syndrome, which involves an overproduction of the hormone cortisol, can lead to fat accumulation in the abdomen. Elevated cortisol levels, often triggered by chronic stress, can lead to weight gain, particularly abdominal fat, due to increased appetite, altered metabolism, and a preference for high-calorie foods.
Role of Cortisol in truncal obesity:
Truncal obesity is sometimes linked to a medical disorder called "Cushing syndrome". People with Cushing syndrome overproduce a hormone called cortisol. This changes how your body stores fat. It can lead to a buildup of fat around your stomach, causing truncal obesity.
Truncal obesity is sometimes linked to a medical disorder called Cushing syndrome. People with Cushing syndrome overproduce a hormone called cortisol. This changes how your body stores fat. It can lead to a buildup of fat around your stomach, causing truncal obesity
Cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone, plays a crucial role in metabolism, energy levels, and blood sugar regulation.
Impacts of elevated Cortisol level:
( i ) Chronic Stress and Weight Gain:
When cortisol levels remain consistently high due to chronic stress, it can disrupt metabolic processes, leading to weight gain.
(ii) Cortisol Impacts
Increased appetite:
High cortisol levels can increase appetite and cravings, particularly for high-calorie, sugary, and fatty foods.
(iii) Altered Metabolism: Cortisol can slow down metabolism, making it harder to burn calories and leading to fat storage, especially around the abdomen.
(iv) Insulin Resistance: Elevated cortisol can lead to insulin resistance, where the body becomes less sensitive to insulin, which can contribute to weight gain and increased risk of Type II diabetes.
(v) Muscle Loss: Chronic high cortisol can also lead to muscle breakdown, further contributing to weight gain and metabolic issues.
"Cortisol Belly":
The increased abdominal fat storage associated with high cortisol levels is often referred to as "cortisol belly".
Other Health Risks:
Besides weight gain, chronically elevated cortisol levels can also increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and other health problems.
Managing Stress and Weight:
To address stress-related weight gain, it's important to manage stress levels through techniques like exercise, mindfulness, meditation, and ensuring adequate sleep.
Health risks:of truncal obesity:
Excess body fat has serious consequences for health. It' associated with high levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol and triglycerides and low levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol. It impairs the body's responsiveness to insulin, raising blood sugar and insulin levels.
The contribution of truncal obesity to cardio metabolic risk factors - including dyslipidemia, insulin-resistance, and systemic inflammation - has been well established in adults. This relationship is less well defined in children, in part, due to the numerous methods to define obesity and truncal adiposity in children.
Truncal obesity is associated with increased risk of various health problems, such as:
Cardiovascular disease
Type II diabetes
High blood pressure
Sleep apnea
Diagnosis of truncal obesity:
Doctors and healthcare professionals often assess truncal obesity by measuring a person's waist circumference or height-to-weight ratio. Truncal obesity, or abdominal obesity, is diagnosed by measuring waist circumference and/or waist-to-height ratio, with specific cutoff points for men and women.
Waist Circumference:
A waist circumference greater than 102 cm (40 inches) in men and 88 cm (35 inches) in women is indicative of truncal obesity.
Waist-to-Height Ratio:
A waist-to-height ratio greater than 0.5 is another indicator of truncal obesity.
Other Considerations:
While BMI (Body Mass Index) is a common measure of obesity, it doesn't specifically assess fat distribution, which is why waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio are preferred for diagnosing truncal obesity.
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Information complied by Dr . Bhairavsinh Raol
