10. Obesity, osteoporosis, and psychological testing assessment

The relationship between obesity and osteoporosis

For women, menopause is a crucial stage of physical change, during which many diseases can easily creep in unnoticed. Therefore, I'd like to elaborate on this topic to remind menopausal women that whether it's weight loss or preventing weight regain, they must better understand their own bodies and prioritize their health.

Obesity is not just a matter of appearance; it is closely related to body shape and health. Obesity has a significant impact on human bones and joints, with osteoporosis being the most common consequence, as osteoporosis is a common condition among menopausal women.

According to statistics from weight loss clinics, the proportion of menopausal obese women with osteoporosis is around 85%, slightly higher than the 78% in Europe and the United States. This is mainly due to the relative scarcity of resources in society over the past few decades, resulting in insufficient intake of milk and calcium among women. This factor contributes to the higher incidence of osteoporosis in women compared to Europe and the United States. Furthermore, the proportion of osteoporosis among obese individuals is far higher than that among patients of normal weight.

Obesity and Bone Cells

Sex hormones are systemic factors that affect bone cell function. They play a crucial role in regulating blood calcium levels, especially in women's bones. Because women's bones are smaller, postmenopausal women often experience symptoms of sex hormone deficiency, particularly estrogen deficiency, which can easily lead to osteoporosis.

One of the more difficult aspects is that estrogen replacement therapy often leads to obesity as a side effect, so it requires special care.

Obesity and peak bone mass

Women's bone mass peaks around the age of 18 to 35, and the peak bone mass is significantly related to hormones and body weight.

(1) Hormonal state

Normal bone growth requires ruling out endocrine abnormalities such as those of the pituitary gland, adrenal glands, thyroid gland, and gonads, because imbalances in different endocrine systems, such as estrogen and progesterone, can also cause bone abnormalities.

Estrogen affects bones by altering bone density, particularly in the lumbar vertebrae. Any natural menopause or oophorectomy leads to accelerated bone loss; therefore, estrogen deficiency causes significant bone damage, resulting in severe osteoporosis.

(2)Weight

Weight is also one of the important factors that determine peak bone mass.

This is mainly because larger people have larger bones, while obese women have more body fat. Visceral fat accumulated due to obesity is a major culprit in metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, so we must be careful about our weight.

treat

Modern women often experience obesity, osteoporosis, and other menopausal symptoms simultaneously, leading to situations where one aspect is overlooked during treatment. Furthermore, hormone replacement therapy, such as the use of estrogen, often results in the side effect of obesity. Therefore, consultations with obstetricians and gynecologists are usually conducted to achieve a comprehensive treatment approach and avoid side effects. Generally, the treatment of osteoporosis involves both menopause management and medication.

(1) Treatment of amenorrhea

The use of estrogen can prevent the onset of some diseases, but its contraindications and side effects should be noted. The medical community also recommends the simultaneous use of estrogen and progesterone to reduce the probability and impact of side effects.

(2) Drug treatment

Calcium, vitamin D, calcitonin, bisphosphonates, anabolic steroids, and fluorides are all medications that promote bone formation. However, because patients with osteoporosis respond very differently to these medications, especially postmenopausal women, preventing osteoporosis is very important.

Consuming adequate amounts of calcium, vitamin D, and protein, quitting smoking and drinking alcohol, and engaging in appropriate exercise and weight control are all good ways to prevent osteoporosis.

Medical research shows a direct correlation between body weight and bone density in both men and women. Postmenopausal women who are heavier tend to experience less bone loss in their forearms, but changes in spinal bone density are unrelated to body weight. However, other studies indicate that an ideal body weight can reduce spinal bone loss, while being overweight does not guarantee this benefit.

in conclusion

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease that cannot be completely cured. It is not only a health problem for individual patients, but also a problem for families and society. Although it can be effectively controlled with medication, osteoporosis still threatens the elderly with an extremely high incidence rate.

Therefore, the treatment approach must consider both prevention and treatment. Firstly, the patient's suffering must be minimized. Secondly, the patient must cooperate by maintaining a normal daily routine, good dietary habits, appropriate exercise, and maintaining an ideal weight.

Other studies have indicated that patients who undergo weight loss treatment experience improvement in osteoporosis symptoms, which may be related to changes in dietary habits, fat metabolism, and calcium metabolism. Therefore, for menopausal women, maintaining an appropriate weight not only helps improve osteoporosis but also alleviates menopausal symptoms.

Love yourself

14 psychological tests to find out if you're right for weight loss?

Don't assume that being overweight means you absolutely have to lose weight. Proper weight loss requires addressing both underlying medical conditions and timing; otherwise, improper weight loss can be life-threatening. Therefore, before even considering weight loss, take a minute or two to take the following psychological test in a relaxed state of mind. This is a concrete way of showing self-love.

Psychological test

What prompted me to try losing weight?

□ A: Read media and magazines

□ B: Introduced or recommended by friends

□ C: Urging from parents and siblings

□ D: Requirements for boyfriends/girlfriends and spouses

□ E: Make up your mind

What is the most effective way to lose weight?

□ A: Traditional Chinese medicine slimming tea or Western medicine slimming pills

□ B: Acupuncture and acupoint stimulation

□ C: Slimming equipment

□ D: Only eat vegetables and fruits

□ E: Exercise more

How many kilograms or centimeters of weight loss would be satisfactory?

□ A: Lose 3-5 kg ​​per week

□ B: Lose 10-17 cm per week

□ C: Lose 5-7 kg in 1 month

□ D: Lose 1 kg per week

□ E: Lose 3 kg per month

How many times have you tried to lose weight?

□ A: Many times (more than 5 times)

□ B: 3 times

□ C: 2 times

□ D: 1 time

□ E: Never tried to lose weight

What is the relationship between diet and obesity?

□ A: You can gain weight even from drinking water.

□ B: Not very relevant

□ C: You'll lose weight if you don't eat.

□ D: Close relationship

□ E: Eating too much high-calorie food will make you fat.

What are your intuitive thoughts on weight loss effectiveness?

□ A: I don't believe it (most of these methods are ineffective).

□ B: Skeptical (some are effective, some are not)

□ C: Try and decide

□ D: It should be effective.

□ E: It will definitely be effective.

Is your determination to lose weight strong enough to sustain you through treatment (counseling)?

□ A: Not very confident

□ B: We will cooperate only if there is enough time.

□ C: Depends on the results

□ D: Will give the other party some time to cooperate.

□ E: Determined to cooperate to the end

Circle A for 1 point, circle B for 2 points, circle C for 3 points, circle D for 4 points, and circle E for 5 points.

A total score of 60 or above-congratulations! Your chances of successfully losing weight are extremely high.

A total score of 40-60 points-I wish you success! Weight loss will only be successful after communication and explanation.

A total score of 25-40 points requires double the effort! Education must be strengthened and full understanding must be gained, otherwise the failure rate is extremely high.

If your total score is below 25, hold off on your weight loss efforts! This is not the right time to lose weight.

This test is a psychological test taken before starting a weight loss program.

What's your total score? Is your chance of success extremely high, or should you postpone your efforts? To lose weight, you need to fully understand the methods used and ensure that it's done safely and healthily in order to achieve your perfect weight loss goal.

Four definitions of obesity

1. For those who are indeed obese, the Body Mass Index (BMI) is used as the measurement standard. A BMI > 25 is considered obese, which means that the weight exceeds the standard by more than 20%.

2. Individuals who are noticeably obese in other parts of their body, such as the lower abdomen or buttocks, but whose weight does not exceed the standard weight by much.

3. Those with apple-shaped obesity (obese at both the top and bottom) or pear-shaped obesity (obese in the middle).

4. Those who are noticeably obese or disproportionate in other parts of their body.

Body Mass Index (BMI) algorithm

Body Mass Index (BMI), also known as safe body fat percentage, is calculated as: weight divided by the square of height, where weight is in kilograms and height is in meters. That is, BMI = weight (kg) / height (m)². For example, a female celebrity who is 1.68 meters tall and weighs 53.5 kilograms has a BMI of 53.5 divided by the square of 1.68, which equals 18.97.

A BMI of 22 is considered ideal. A BMI below 20 is considered underweight, while a BMI above 25 is considered overweight and requires weight loss.

After completing the psychological tests and BMI calculations, you might indeed need to lose weight. However, I still want to remind everyone once again to consult a professional doctor and not to blindly believe exaggerated beauty advertisements circulating online, lest you gamble with your health.

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