Overweight is a serious problem for many women. But sometimes the cause of weight gain lies in different diseases, and may even be one of the first symptoms of such diseases.
Overweight Disease
Several diseases are known, the possible manifestation of which becomes an inexorable set of body weight. Among them are:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (abbreviated as PCOS).
- Depression
- Myoma.
- Diabetes.
- Itsenko-Cushing’s disease.
All of these ailments are related to pathologies of the endocrine system. They are characterized by a violation of the normal level of hormones in the blood.
Overweight in PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome is considered a very common endocrine disease. With this pathology, the formation of many follicular cysts occurs in the ovaries (in one or both). Similar processes can be triggered by a certain hereditary predisposition.
Overweight is considered one of the typical manifestations of PCOS. With such a violation, male type obesity is most often recorded, when a significant amount of adipose tissue accumulates in the lower abdomen, as well as in the peritoneum (in the form of an apple).
Other classic symptoms of PCOS may include:
- The appearance of acne.
- Excessive hair growth on the body (including on the face).
- Thinning of hair on the head.
- Lack of regularity of the menstrual cycle.
- Inability to conceive a child.
- Disturbances of emotional balance, depression.
Treatment of PCOS most often involves a change in lifestyle, in particular, following a diet, increasing physical activity, giving up bad habits. These measures help to reduce excess weight and contribute to a more stable endocrine system. In addition, hormonal treatment can be carried out, in particular, using oral contraceptives. Sometimes there is a need for surgical intervention with partial excision of the tissue of the affected ovary.
Depression
Real depression refers to mental disorders and requires targeted psychotherapeutic treatment. There can be many reasons for the development of such an ailment, and its main manifestations:
- Persistently lowered mood.
- Inability to enjoy life.
- Constant fatigue.
Excess weight is not a classic manifestation of depression, but such an ailment slows down the metabolism very much, which can result in serious obesity, even without severe overeating.
The treatment of depressive disorders does not always require taking serious medications like antidepressants or tranquilizers. But to cope with such problems on their own, without medical assistance is almost impossible. For patients with depression, counseling and treatment by a psychiatrist is recommended.
Myoma
This term is used to refer to a benign tumor forming in the wall of the uterus or the uterine cervix. The development of this disease is accompanied by a hormonal imbalance and can lead to weight gain. Sometimes the myoma reaches especially large sizes and directly leads to the appearance of extra centimeters at the waist. There are cases when the tumor grew to several kilograms.
The danger of fibroids is that it can develop almost asymptomatically, and women who refuse to regularly visit a gynecologist risk missing the moment of its formation. Large tumors can make themselves felt:
- Malfunctions of the menstrual cycle (especially long periods).
- Uterine bleeding.
- Irregular stools, frequent urination (such symptoms are explained by the pressure of a large tumor on adjacent organs).
- Prolonged infertility.
- Drawing pain in the lower abdomen.
To date, treatment of fibroids is carried out by conservative and operational methods. With large tumor sizes, surgical intervention is indicated.
Obesity as a symptom of diabetes
Excess weight can appear with the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, also known as non-insulin dependent. With this pathology, the patient’s pancreas synthesizes a sufficient amount of insulin, but the receptors do not show the necessary sensitivity to it. Obesity is considered a classic symptom of this disease, but in addition, type 2 diabetes makes itself felt:
- The appearance of obsessive thirst.
- Excessive dry mouth.
- Itchy sensations in the skin.
- Strong muscle weakness.
- Slow healing of various skin lesions.
The initial diagnosis of diabetes is very simple – you just need to donate blood to sugar level. And the treatment of this disease should be comprehensive. It is extremely important for patients to adhere to a diet, change their usual lifestyle and engage in physical activity. In parallel, drug therapy is carried out aimed at reducing the absorption of glucose by the walls of the intestine and at reducing its production in the liver. Medicines that can increase the sensitivity of tissues to the effects of insulin are also used.
Itsenko-Cushing’s Disease
This is a neuroendocrine disease, in which there is an increased production of hormones of the adrenal cortex. A similar situation is possible with the formation of a tumor in the adrenal glands or in the pituitary gland.
Obesity is when the disease Cushing’s is specific:
- Fat begins to be deposited on the shoulders, as well as on the stomach and face. Extra pounds appear in the area of the mammary glands and back.
- The limbs of patients seem thin.
- The face takes on a moon-shaped appearance: it looks round, the cheeks turn red.
- Streaks of pink-purple or crimson color appear on the skin.
The development of the disease causes other health problems. Most often recorded:
- Excessive hair.
- Excessive muscle weakness.
- Brittle bones.
- Increased blood pressure.
- Depressive states, euphoria, sleep problems.
- The drop in body resistance.
Treatment of Itsenko-Cushing’s disease requires radiation therapy and targeted drug treatment. It is possible to perform surgical intervention to eliminate one or even two adrenal glands, which subsequently requires lifelong replacement therapy.