9. Detailed Explanation of Time Zone, Seasonal, Drug-Induced, and Postmenopausal Obesity

5. Jet lag obesity

Jet lag obesity is a pathological form of obesity that occurs mainly due to the different pace of life in modern society. It often occurs in people who have irregular sleep schedules, such as flight attendants, nurses working night shifts, convenience store workers, and night owls, or people who have to frequently adapt to different time zones.

In addition, there is a very interesting situation: some women who gain weight after childbirth also do so because of jet lag. It turns out that in addition to having to feed the baby in the middle of the night, the baby sometimes cries at night, making it impossible for the mother to sleep all night. During the day, she sleeps with the baby and eats in between, thus creating a cycle of eating and sleeping, and gaining weight without realizing it.

However, jet lag obesity usually improves significantly with lifestyle changes, a return to normal life, and consistent effort to lose weight over a period of time. It's even possible to regain one's original physique. However, this process involves not only weight loss but also correcting the jet lag, which can be quite painful.

Etiology

The main cause of jet lag obesity is the alteration or disruption of the body's biological clock, which leads to abnormal hormone secretion and thus obesity. This is because the biological clock is a mechanism that adjusts the body's daytime activities and nighttime sleep by increasing hormone secretion during the day and decreasing it at night.

Increased hormone secretion can break down excess fat and prevent obesity; conversely, decreased secretion leads to a lower metabolic rate, causing fat to accumulate in the body and resulting in obesity. This is why it's not advisable to eat anything within three hours of bedtime.

In addition, changes or disruptions to the biological clock can cause a craving for sweets during jet lag. If this is combined with irregular eating habits and meal times, it can easily lead to jet lag obesity.

The most common symptom of jet lag obesity is slow weight loss but rapid weight gain, making it easy to gain weight easily and difficult to lose it. This is mainly because the problem of fat accumulation cannot be improved, resulting in the strange phenomenon that the more tired you are, the easier it is to gain weight. Jet lag obesity is also often accompanied by depression and endocrine disorders such as dry skin, acne, menstrual irregularities, and decreased libido. In particular, menstrual irregularities can easily lead to abnormal ovulation, making it difficult to conceive, and in severe cases, it can even lead to infertility.

treat

Generally speaking, patients with jet lag obesity tend to have lower adrenaline secretion, decreased amylase concentration, endocrine abnormalities, and liver function indices may be elevated due to factors such as staying up late. Therefore, the examination of jet lag obesity must focus on measuring hormone concentration and liver function.

In addition to the general principles of treating obesity, the most important thing is to adjust the ratio of the three nutrients, fiber, starch, and protein, from the original 3:2:1 to 4:1:1. The reason for increasing the fiber ratio to 4 is mainly because statistics show that 80% of patients with jet lag obesity experience constipation.

In terms of drug treatment, since most patients with jet lag obesity have metabolic problems such as poor appetite and slow starch breakdown, the proportion of metabolic drugs is usually increased according to individual circumstances, but drugs that adjust the sleep clock are not recommended.

In conclusion, jet lag obesity is a pathological form of obesity that alters body structure, weakens the immune system, and can lead to various health problems; it should not be underestimated. Prevention involves first adjusting to time zone changes and cultivating healthy sleep habits; second, minimizing the consumption of starchy foods that are difficult to digest, especially for pregnant women.

For people with irregular sleep schedules, such as flight attendants, nurses working the night shift, convenience store workers, and night owls, engaging in more physical activities to burn calories and tire themselves out during the time they are adjusting to the time difference can help them fall asleep more easily and thus adjust to the time difference.

6. Seasonal obesity

During the autumn and winter months, around October to December, I see more patients than in the summer. The main reason is that people like to eat hot pot and nourish themselves in the cold winter, which leads to a higher calorie intake. In addition, this period coincides with Christmas, year-end dinners, and the Lunar New Year. It's hard not to gain weight after eating so much!

In addition, winter clothes are usually thick and heavy, so it's not easy to notice that you've started to gain weight while wrapped up in layers. By the time winter is over, you suddenly realize that you can't fit into your clothes from last summer anymore, and by then it's too late.

treat

Seasonal obesity is primarily a dietary issue, unlike the previously mentioned types of obesity which are caused by changes in body constitution. If dietary control is implemented, seasonal obesity can be prevented. Therefore, the focus of treatment for seasonal obesity should be on prevention.

I suggest that everyone eat until they are 80% full. If you are really starving, then eat something simple. Also, eat less as it gets later in the day, and never eat anything after 8 p.m.

During this process, fried foods, sweets, sugary drinks (such as milk tea, cola, soda, etc.), meat skin, sausages, hot dogs, cream soups and other high-calorie foods should be strictly prohibited. When drinking coffee or tea, try to use sugar substitutes.

7. Drug-induced obesity

Although drugs can treat diseases, they are chemical substances. In addition to the toxins they contain accumulating in the body and causing harm, many drugs also have side effects such as causing obesity, which are quite annoying.

Drug-induced obesity is usually a result of disease treatment, so the key to treating drug-induced obesity is avoiding side effects while treating the disease. In reality, many patients are completely unaware of the side effects of medications they use, unknowingly becoming victims of adverse drug use. Therefore, strengthening public awareness of medication use and establishing personal medication records are the best ways to prevent adverse drug use.

Etiology

There are many types of drugs that can easily lead to drug-induced obesity. They can be broadly categorized as: metabolic drugs, hormone preparations, certain immunosuppressants, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, psychiatric drugs, antihypertensive drugs, vitamins, etc.

(1) Metabolic drugs

The most common medications are steroids. Steroids can be divided into two categories: essential steroids and non-essential steroids. Essential steroids, such as anti-rejection drugs, are mostly used to treat rejection after organ transplantation. Non-essential steroids include medications for immune diseases.

(2) Hormonal preparations

This is mainly because it slows down the rate of fat breakdown, leading to increased fat synthesis and accelerating obesity. Hormonal preparations are commonly used by menopausal women, and whether taken orally, injected, or applied topically, they can easily cause obesity.

(3) Certain immunomodulators

For example, medications used to treat collagen diseases and lupus can cause obesity.

(4) Medication for certain types of neuralgia and arthritis

For example, some medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis may contain steroids, which can cause obesity if used long-term.

(5) Psychiatric medications

For example, sedatives or certain psychiatric medications, if used long-term or in excessive amounts, can lower the metabolic rate, which can lead to fat accumulation and obesity.

(6) Certain antibiotics and analgesics

Long-term use of such drugs can also cause obesity, and may even cause the pathology of obesity to shift, leading to the body to overcome hunger through diet, resulting in overeating and storage of fat.

(7) Antihypertensive drugs

Such as calcium ion blockers.

(8) Vitamins

Modern people often take vitamin supplements, but they frequently exceed their needs. However, vitamins B₂ and B₃ can increase appetite, leading to polyphagia. Furthermore, excessive intake of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K can result in excessive fat absorption, leading to fatty obesity.

treat

Since drug-induced obesity is related to medication, common symptoms include edema, menstrual irregularities, hirsutism, and dry skin. Unless absolutely necessary, medication should not be discontinued; simply reducing the dosage is sufficient. For example, hormone preparations can be used intermittently or at lower doses to still achieve the therapeutic goal while reducing the likelihood of obesity. Alternatively, other related medications can be used to enhance fat burning and inhibit calorie intake and absorption.

As for prevention methods, the first step is to determine the type of medication, establish personal medication records and medical history so that doctors have guidelines to follow and avoid side effects such as allergies and obesity. Secondly, it is also necessary to have regular full-body health checkups to track physical condition in order to achieve the purpose of monitoring and prevention.

8. Postmenopausal obesity

Generally speaking, after menopause, women tend to have lower activity levels due to hormonal changes, and their diets tend to become more refined, all of which make postmenopausal women more prone to weight gain.

The most significant issue with postmenopausal obesity is its impact on health. Postmenopausal women are at high risk of developing osteoporosis, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and other diseases. While hormone replacement therapy can reduce the incidence of these diseases, it also makes them more prone to obesity.

Therefore, for postmenopausal women, maintaining their figure is not just about preserving their appearance; the most important thing is to help their health.

Etiology

The main causes of obesity in postmenopausal women are endocrine changes, low metabolic rate, and changes in gastrointestinal function.

(1) Endocrine changes

Postmenopausal women experience a decrease in growth hormone levels, leading to abnormal insulin secretion and reduced function of glucose-degrading enzymes. This causes excess sugar in the body to be converted into fat and stored, resulting in obesity. This is also a cause of obesity in many diabetic patients.

(2) Decreased metabolic rate

A decreased metabolic rate can lead to a deficiency of three endocrine hormones: thyroid hormone, adrenaline, and ovarian hormone. This slows down the breakdown of fat, reduces fat consumption, and naturally increases fat accumulation, ultimately resulting in obesity.

(3) Changes in gastrointestinal function

After menopause begins, due to decreased taste sensitivity, people are more prone to craving strong flavors and may consume more high-calorie, high-salt, and high-sugar foods, which can easily lead to obesity.

Because postmenopausal obesity is closely related to endocrine changes, the symptoms are very similar to those of menopause, including lower body obesity, hot flashes, and constipation. Lower body obesity is most likely to present as pear-shaped obesity, with the fat below the navel; hot flashes are related to neuromotor syndrome; and constipation is a common symptom.

treat

Because hormone replacement therapy and postmenopausal obesity treatment often conflict, finding a balance between the two becomes a crucial issue. Furthermore, the accompanying emotional instability associated with menopause necessitates a comprehensive approach combining hormone replacement therapy and psychotherapy to achieve the best results in treating postmenopausal obesity.

In terms of drug treatment, it is essential to pay attention to endocrine changes, psychological issues, and gastrointestinal changes. If the body mass index (BMI) is too high, lipolysis drugs must be administered; if blood lipids are too high, lipid-lowering drugs should be given; if the metabolic rate is too low, drugs that enhance metabolism and burn more calories should be administered to reduce weight.

As for surgery and other treatments, they are not very suitable because postmenopausal obesity is an endogenous obesity caused by internal factors and is not suitable for surgical procedures such as liposuction.

Generally speaking, as long as a weight loss method is tailored to an individual's body type, and attention is paid to hormone replacement therapy and menopausal mood instability, 80% of people can achieve the expected weight loss results within a year. Even people with an obesity rate of more than 20% will have an 80% satisfaction rate.