When fat accumulates around your stomach and belly, it is known as truncal obesity. It might be connected to particular medical conditions, drugs, or food.
The accumulation of fat around a person's stomach and belly is known as truncal obesity. It can be brought on by consuming too many calories, but it can also occasionally be brought on by medical conditions like Cushing syndrome or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) that alter hormone levels.
Individuals who have truncal obesity are more likely to experience issues like cancer, diabetes, heart problems, and shortened life spans.
Truncal obesity is frequently treated with lifestyle modifications, although there are other treatments as well, such as medication and surgery.
What is truncal obesity?
A form of obesity known as truncal obesity is brought on by an accumulation of extra fat in the area around an individual's midsection. It is also referred to as core obesity or abdominal obesity.
Physicians and other medical professionals frequently use a person's weight circumference or height-to-weight ratio to determine truncal obesity. If your height-to-weight ratio is greater than 0.5 or your waist circumference is greater than 31.4 inches (for female-assigned births) or 35–37 inches (for male-assigned births), you are generally considered to have truncal obesity.
Cushing syndrome and truncal obesity
Cushing syndrome is a medical condition that is occasionally associated with truncal obesity. Individuals suffering from Cushing syndrome overproduce the hormone cortisol. Your body's fat storage is altered by this. It may result in truncal obesity or an accumulation of fat around the stomach.
What causes truncal obesity?
There are several potential reasons why people become obese. There are instances when dietary and lifestyle variables are the root cause of truncal obesity. However, there may be more reasons, including hormone disorders and certain drugs.
Crunchy obesity may be caused by the following:
- High-calorie diets: Truncal obesity can result from consuming too many calories. According to certain studies, truncal obesity is more likely to occur from a diet abundant in highly processed foods than from other calorie-dense diets.
- Heavy alcohol use: Drinking alcohol has been connected to the accumulation of fat around the abdomen.
- Lack of physical activity: Truncal obesity can be caused by a lack of activity, just as other forms of obesity.
- Cushing syndrome: Truncal obesity may result from an excess of cortisol production.
- An underactive thyroid gland: Your metabolism is regulated by thyroid hormone, and weight gain and a sluggish metabolism can result from an underactive thyroid. In certain cases, this might lead to truncal obesity if left untreated.
- PCOS: Rapid weight gain and difficulty maintaining a moderate weight are two effects of PCOS. Truncal obesity is the result for some individuals.
- Hormonal imbalances: Truncal obesity is also associated with other hormonal abnormalities. For example, truncal obesity is associated with decreased testosterone among individuals assigned to male at birth.
- Certain medications: Truncal obesity can result from some drugs that alter metabolism and the way the body stores and uses fat. Steroids, antidepressants, and antipsychotics are examples of this.
What are the potential complications of truncal obesity?
Research has indicated that being obese raises your chances of developing several different illnesses, and compared to other types of obesity, truncal obesity is associated with a higher risk of complications. This may entail a higher chance of:
- heart disease
- insulin resistance
- cardiovascular conditions
- sleep apnea
- chronic health conditions
- a reduced life expectancy
- fatty liver disease
- back pain
- joint pain
- type 2 diabetes
- cancer
How is truncal obesity treated?
For truncal obesity, there are several therapeutic options available. The best course of action may vary depending on your general health as well as the underlying cause of your type 2 diabetes.
Possible course of treatment options include:
- eating a diet lower in calories
- stepping up physical activity
- Giving up or consuming less alcohol
- using obesity-fighting drugs
- attempting therapy-based approaches to treating obesity
- participating in a clinic or weight-loss programme
- undergoing a non-invasive procedure to remove fat
- undergoing a medical procedure like liposuction to remove fat
- undergoing weight-loss surgery
Treating your underlying cause may occasionally aid in the management of truncal obesity. For example, you may be able to treat truncal obesity and maintain a reasonable weight by stopping a medicine that is causing you to gain weight.
An individual with truncal obesity may find it simpler to control their weight and get well by taking care of an underactive thyroid or Cushing syndrome.
Takeaway
When fat accumulates in the middle of your body, around your stomach and belly, it is referred to as truncal obesity. It may be the consequence of consuming too many calories, but it may also be a side effect of medication or a problem associated with hormonal disorders like Cushing syndrome.
Truncal obesity is associated with a higher risk of consequences from obesity, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and a shorter life expectancy.
The underlying cause of truncal obesity determines the optimal course of treatment. However, treatments for truncal obesity include medication, therapy, surgery, and dietary and lifestyle modifications.
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