Treating chronic diseases without tackling excess adiposity promotes multimorbidity

Sattar, N. , McMurray, J. J. V. , McInnes, I. B. , Aroda, V. R. and Lean, M. E. J. (2023) Treating chronic diseases without tackling excess adiposity promotes multimorbidity. Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, 11(1), pp. 58-62. (doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(22)00317-5) (PMID:36460014)

Abstract

Few people now reach old age without taking multiple drugs, often attending various clinics, and undergoing secondary or tertiary investigations. Most chronic conditions are, to differing extents, caused or exacerbated by excess adiposity, but weight management is rarely discussed or attempted for patients. Furthermore, progressive symptoms usually attributed to ageing (eg, musculoskeletal pains, fatigue, and breathlessness), and which create considerable health-care demands, can also be attributed to the accumulation of body fat over time. For many symptoms and diseases that are more frequently reported in people with excess adiposity (such as depression), there exist potentially multidirectional, causal relationships that generate a cycle of clinical and social deterioration. There is insufficient research on the effects of effective weight management on these clinically demanding, age and weight-mediated symptoms. Based on current evidence, we suggest that policy makers need to be more proactive in obesity prevention and effective weight management should receive research funding to match the search for novel therapeutics for secondary chronic diseases.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McInnes, Professor Iain and Lean, Professor Michael and Sattar, Professor Naveed and McMurray, Professor John
• Authors: Sattar, N., McMurray, J. J. V., McInnes, I. B., Aroda, V. R., and Lean, M. E. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Research Centre: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity > Centre for Immunobiology
• Journal Name: Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2213-8587
• ISSN (Online): 2213-8595
• Published Online: 29 November 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology 11(1): 58-62
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy