Vicious circle of obesity: One in nine people is extremely overweight
13.11.2023 17:16
Unhealthy diet, too little exercise, mental problems, hereditary predisposition or even the use of certain medications – there are several reasons for being overweight (obesity). One thing is certain: more and more people in Germany are suffering from obesity. According to a current data collection by the KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse, one in nine people in this country was diagnosed with obesity. For women, this even applies to one in eight. Overall, the number of those affected increased by 30 percent from 2012 to 2022 (plus 41 percent for men and plus 26 percent for women).
Alarming: The KKH recorded the highest increase rates among 25 to 29 year olds and 30 to 34 year old men at around 69 and 66 percent respectively. For women, the greatest increase occurred from the age of 85 (plus 64 percent), followed by the group of 45 to 49 year olds (plus 47 percent). The time-consuming use of smartphones, PCs and other digital media during work and leisure time across all age groups - usually while sitting - promotes a lack of exercise. In combination with an unhealthy diet, this is one of the main causes of obesity. The corona pandemic with home office and homeschooling as well as the closure of sports facilities has exacerbated this development.
Obesity costs quality of life and often years of life
Obesity (Latin adeps for 'fat') or obesity is a nutritional and metabolic disease with severe overweight, which manifests itself in an excessive increase in body fat with pathological effects. This is why it is colloquially called obesity. Those affected have a body mass index of 30 or more. The tricky thing: the higher the weight, the higher the risk of serious secondary diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases, breast, colon and other types of cancer, type 2 diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. Last but not least, obesity reduces the quality of life, reduces physical resilience, can lead to social exclusion, loneliness and anxiety, and can reduce life expectancy.
One of the core causes of obesity is poor nutritional behavior. “People often eat too often, too much and too quickly, be it because of a lack of satiety, frustration and loneliness, stress, problems or even boredom,” says KKH nutritionist Dr. Anja Luci. “The menu also often includes foods and drinks whose energy content is underestimated. The classics include yogurt, muesli bars and orange juice.” The result: a high risk of obesity.
Taking certain medications can also promote obesity. “There are medicines that increase appetite, lead to increased eating and thus weight gain,” explains Sven Seißelberg, pharmacist at KKH. Examples of this are medicines for diabetics or antidepressants.
The weight loss drug Wegovy with the active ingredient semaglutide is currently making a lot of noise. The active ingredient, which is actually used to treat diabetes, raises great hope among people who weigh significantly too many kilos because of its weight-reducing properties. A miracle weapon against obesity? “In fact, studies show that the active ingredient – administered regularly – can also be used as a weight loss aid, especially for those who are very overweight,” says KKH pharmacist Sven Seißelberg. “But as soon as the medication is stopped, the weight goes back up. In addition, the safety committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is currently reviewing possible side effects of several weight loss and diabetes medications. It therefore remains to be seen whether it is a secret weapon in the fight against unwanted pounds.”
How to get out of the obesity spiral?
Obesity should be taken seriously because of possible serious complications. The good news: With willpower and a good roadmap, the disease can be overcome. It is advisable to consult your family doctor or a nutritionist. This is particularly true when children are affected. The KKH supports insured people with treatment, for example promoting a permanent change to a low-calorie diet and regular sporting activities as well as behavioral therapy. The KKH is also part of an alliance of health insurance companies, doctors and specialist organizations that is committed to preventing obesity - including through healthy nutrition, a sugar tax, understandable labels on food, bans on advertising sweets and healthy standards for school and daycare meals.
Explanations of data analysis
The KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse has evaluated nationwide data on the frequency of obesity (E 66 according to ICD-10) for the years 2012 and 2022. Around 188,000 insured people nationwide were diagnosed with obesity in 2022 (including around 117,000 women and around 71,000 men). This corresponds to a share of 11.2 percent. According to the German Obesity Society, an estimated 17 million people in this country suffer from the disease. With around 1.6 million insured people, a household volume of over seven billion euros and around 4,000 employees, the KKH Kaufmännische Krankenkasse is one of the largest nationwide health insurance companies and is one of the high-performance providers of statutory health insurance.