{"id":16455,"date":"2025-02-13T10:54:23","date_gmt":"2025-02-13T10:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/?p=16455"},"modified":"2025-11-07T18:35:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-07T18:35:57","slug":"overweight-and-obesity-as-they-affect-society","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/en\/excesso-de-peso-e-obesidade-como-afetam-a-sociedade\/","title":{"rendered":"Overweight and Obesity: How Do They Affect Society?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"16455\" class=\"elementor elementor-16455\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d8c0115 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d8c0115\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abfc7db elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"abfc7db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity is a chronic disease characterised by excess body fat, resulting from an imbalance between calorie intake and energy expenditure. This public health problem has been on the rise globally, including in Portugal, where more than 65% of the population lives with excess weight or obesity.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-525e765 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"525e765\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How do overweight and obesity affect health?\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c6deee1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c6deee1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity is associated with various comorbidities that compromise quality of life and increase mortality. The main complications include<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Cardiovascular Diseases:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Obesity is a significant risk factor for high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and stroke.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Type 2 diabetes:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Excess adipose tissue contributes to insulin resistance, facilitating the development of this condition.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sleep Apnoea:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The accumulation of fat in the neck area can obstruct the airways during sleep, causing breathing interruptions.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Osteoarticular Diseases:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Excessive weight overloads the joints, leading to conditions such as osteoarthritis.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Certain Types of Cancer:<\/b><span> Obesity is correlated with an increased risk of several types of cancer, including breast, colon and pancreatic.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-96432ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"96432ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Obesity and the Economy: How Much Does Excess Weight Cost?\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26ce308 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"26ce308\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The economic burden of obesity is substantial, reflected in direct and indirect costs:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Direct costs:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> This includes medical costs for treatment, hospitalisation and medication. In Portugal, the treatment of obesity represents approximately 13 million euros.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Indirect costs:<\/b><span> They include lost productivity due to absenteeism, early retirement and early mortality.<\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is estimated that overweight will be responsible for 92 million deaths in the countries of the world over the next three decades. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oecd.org\/en.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OECD<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, highlighting the economic and social impact of this condition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77e521e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"77e521e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"558\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/medico-na-net-Excesso-de-Peso-e-Obesidade.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-16497\" alt=\"Overweight patient\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/medico-na-net-Excesso-de-Peso-e-Obesidade.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/medico-na-net-Excesso-de-Peso-e-Obesidade-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/medico-na-net-Excesso-de-Peso-e-Obesidade-768x536.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/medico-na-net-Excesso-de-Peso-e-Obesidade-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/medico-na-net-Excesso-de-Peso-e-Obesidade-600x419.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a00cd68 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a00cd68\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c9be62d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c9be62d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How Excess Weight Affects Daily Life\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-95bd86b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"95bd86b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92abfb0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"92abfb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to the health and economic implications, obesity has significant social consequences:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stigma and Discrimination:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Individuals with obesity often face prejudice, affecting their self-esteem and mental health.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Access to employment:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The associated stigma can limit job opportunities and career progression.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Quality of Life:<\/b><span> The physical and psychological limitations imposed by obesity reduce participation in social and recreational activities.<\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2cc4ebf elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2cc4ebf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Factors Contributing to Obesity\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-873d885 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"873d885\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity is a multifactorial condition, influenced by:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Inadequate Eating Habits:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Excessive consumption of foods high in calories, sugars and fats.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sedentary lifestyle:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The lack of regular physical activity contributes to the positive energy balance.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Genetic factors:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Genetic predisposition can increase susceptibility to obesity.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Social Determinants:<\/b><span> Socio-economic conditions influence access to healthy food and opportunities for physical exercise.<\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-625483b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"625483b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to Prevent and Treat Excess Weight\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d911f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d911f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tackling obesity requires multidisciplinary strategies:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Food education:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Promoting healthy eating habits from an early age.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Encouraging Physical Activity:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Create environments that facilitate exercise, such as parks and sports facilities.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Public Policy:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Implement measures to restrict the commercialisation of unhealthy foods and encourage nutritious options.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Psychological support:<\/b><span> Offering support to deal with emotional issues related to food and body image.<\/span><\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7234c5b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7234c5b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Way to Fight Obesity and Promote Health\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-780bc85 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"780bc85\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obesity represents a complex challenge that affects multiple dimensions of society. Its repercussions on public health, the economy and social well-being emphasise the urgency of effective and sustainable interventions. It is imperative that governments, health professionals and society in general collaborate to promote healthy lifestyles, reduce the associated stigma and implement policies that mitigate the contributing factors to this global epidemic.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you're looking for a medical approach to weight loss, the<\/span><span style=\"color: #2b9b9f;\"><a style=\"color: #2b9b9f;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/en\/product\/consulta-prescricao-auto-injetavel-perda-de-peso\/\"> <b>Doctor on the Net<\/b><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> offers specialised consultations, including the assessment and prescription of medication, helping to achieve more effective and safer weight management.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A obesidade \u00e9 uma doen\u00e7a cr\u00f3nica caracterizada pelo excesso de gordura corporal, resultante de um desequil\u00edbrio entre a ingest\u00e3o cal\u00f3rica e o gasto energ\u00e9tico. Este problema de sa\u00fade p\u00fablica tem vindo a aumentar globalmente, incluindo em Portugal, onde mais de 65% da popula\u00e7\u00e3o vive com excesso de peso ou obesidade. Como o excesso de peso [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1393,"featured_media":16502,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[112,124,114,119,113],"class_list":["post-16455","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-perda-de-peso","tag-auto-injetaveis","tag-consulta","tag-mounjaro","tag-ozempic","tag-perda-de-peso"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/medico-na-net-Excesso-de-Peso-e-Obesidade-2.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16455","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1393"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16455"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16455\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16455"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16455"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mediconanet.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16455"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}