Are you a pear or an apple?
As we age, we understand that it is not only and not so much about how much we weigh, but also about the quality of our body. Doctors add: it is important where you store fat and how things are going with your metabolism. In men and women, fat is distributed differently. Female obesity is characterized by the deposition of extra pounds in the lower body – in the lower abdomen, on the hips, buttocks. This redistribution of adipose tissue is also called a “pear”. It is believed that the presence of a pear-shaped body does not negatively affect health. That is, it is more profitable to be a “pear”.
The apple body type is characterized by the deposition of adipose tissue in the abdomen. Due to the increase in the volume of the abdomen, the shape of the body resembles an apple. Such abdominal obesity is more common in men, but is often found in women. Central obesity for an apple-shaped body can lead to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease, as well as the risk of developing diabetes and cancer.
Throughout life, people with any type of figure at different periods of life try, try, try to lose weight. This becomes especially characteristic after forty years, when the metabolism naturally slows down and skipping a couple of dinners to lose weight in the waist is no longer enough. Some at such moments buy a subscription to the gym and by an effort of will restrict themselves in nutrition (or at least introduce a couple of healthy habits into the diet), while others approach the issue more radically and think about liposuction. Operations that can get rid of fat deposits and model the figure. But not everything is so simple, our expert assures.
Why liposuction won’t help you lose weight
“Liposuction is just a procedure to reduce fatty tissue in certain areas. Of the most commonly performed plastic surgery procedures, liposuction seems to have the most misconceptions about what it is for and what its effect is.
Liposuction is a body shaping procedure, not a weight loss procedure. This should be remembered by people with a high body mass index (BMI). Ideally, people with liposuction should be slightly overweight. Small areas of adipose tissue that are corrected by liposuction will not change their weight, since the fat is not dense and therefore light.
People who are obese (BMI between 30 and 34) or morbidly obese (BMI over 35) should be aware that there is a limit to the amount of fat that can be removed during a single operation. Even if a large amount of adipose tissue is removed, it may not generally affect the overall size of a person’s body. Even if fat is removed through liposuction, without changing diet and exercise, the effects of liposuction will be short-lived. For people with a BMI over 35, liposuction may be helpful to remove fatty tissue in certain areas, such as the chin area. After liposuction, the number of fat cells in a certain area is reduced, but not eliminated. The remaining fat cells can increase in volume with weight gain or decrease with weight loss. Therefore, proper nutrition will help maintain the results.
Liposuction is performed above the muscles and under the skin, so internal (visceral) fat is not affected during this procedure. The only way to get rid of intra-abdominal fat is proper nutrition and physical activity.”
To whom is gastric resection indicated and how long does the effect of the operation last?
And can gastric resection, an operation to reduce it, help to lose weight? After all, there is a percentage of people who are truly overweight, for whom obesity is often a psychological problem. Many of them believe that gastric resection is the only way out. And here is more good news. On the one side…
“Surgical treatment is recommended for obese individuals aged 18-60 years who have failed diet therapy and other attempts to reduce weight with a BMI > 40 kg/m2 (regardless of the presence of comorbidities); BMI > 35 kg/m2 and the presence of severe diseases, the course of which can be influenced by weight loss. There are several types of bariatric surgeries.
Longitudinal resection of the stomach involves the removal of 60-80% of the volume of the stomach, followed by restoration of the continuity of the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, the stomach takes on the appearance of a narrow sleeve and leads to a restriction in the intake of energy from food by reducing the volume of a single intake of food and a faster onset of a feeling of satiety. The stomach also decreases production of the appetite-regulating hormone ghrelin, which can reduce appetite.
This is one of the most common types of bariatric surgery. During the first two years after the operation, the patient’s excess body weight is reduced by 60-65%. This operation is considered effective in severe forms of obesity, but is also not a guarantee of getting rid of excess weight. Since when you return to excess food intake, the “reduced” stomach gradually stretches (according to various sources, within 5-7 years).
The truth about drinks with sweeteners
We understand that liposuction and bariatric surgery are quite serious interventions (especially gastrectomy). What can you do today to reduce calories? For example, will there be an effect if you replace the usual soda with the one with a sweetener?
“Many sweeteners are indeed calorie-free and thus reduce the energy content of the diet. However, sweeteners are much sweeter than regular sugar, thus more intensely affect the taste buds. The more intense the taste of sweet, the less sensitive the receptors become, and in order to feel the taste, we need more over time, which stimulates the appetite and cravings for sweets. Therefore, sweeteners are recommended to be consumed in moderation.
For example, Coca-Cola Zero uses several common artificial sweeteners, including aspartame and acesulfame potassium. The rest of the ingredients are sparkling water, caramel color, food additives and natural flavors. In recent years, studies have been conducted suggesting a possible link between artificial sweeteners and changes in the gut microbiome that can lead to metabolic disorders, obesity. In general, sugar-free drink options are a better choice than drinks with sugar and can help cut calories and sugars. But it is better to give preference to natural sweeteners and use them in doses.
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