Obesity is a complex disease that is not caused by one single issue. Many things factor into the equation that leads an individual to gain weight to the point of threatening their health, such as the environment they grew up in, underlying medical conditions that prevent them from maintaining a healthy weight, or sedentary lifestyles. Whichever the risk factors may be, obesity has become a global problem that affects millions of people of varying ages.
Obesity affects everyone around the world with data suggesting that “the number of obese people in the world has tripled since 1975 to roughly 30% of the total population”[1], and this number continues to rise. Just as there are many causes for obesity, there are also many risk factors that may arise if a person is battling with extra weight. This disorder is one of the leading causes of death because it dramatically decreases a person’s life expectancy.
Obesity puts people at higher risk for several diseases or illnesses, such as: diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, strokes, and high blood pressure.
People of all ages, in both Mexico and the United States, are facing an obesity epidemic and subsequent risk factors, which helps explain the rise in popularity of bariatric surgery. Many people from all over the country come to our Tijuana clinic to learn more on how to reduce obesity risk factors and lead the life they want. At LIMARP®, they’re attended by a top-notch team of doctors led by Dr. Liza María Pompa González, and together they ensure that whoever walks through our doors has a successful journey toward recovery and a healthier lifestyle.
While weight loss surgery is helpful, knowing the risk factors that contribute to obesity can help you avoid the need for surgery. Dyslipidemia refers to unhealthy levels of one or more kinds of lipid (fat) in your blood. As you may have noticed from the other articles available on our website, we usually cover how certain diseases or illnesses are directly linked to obesity or being overweight. However, there are other conditions that can affect everyone, regardless of their weight. Dyslipidemia is one of them, as it can be caused by several factors that go beyond the lack of a healthy diet or an active lifestyle.
For this article, we will take a closer and deeper look into dyslipidemia, its causes, symptoms, and available treatments.
The doors of our Tijuana clinic are always open and we receive patients with different backgrounds from both sides of the border. Our multidisciplinary team at LIMARP®, led by Dr. Liza María Pompa González, is here to help you understand the effects of having dyslipidemia, as well as provide all the necessary tools and information to ensure that you lead a healthier lifestyle.
As always, we’d like to remind you that each case is different and the information presented in this article is general. If you haven’t been diagnosed with dyslipidemia, make sure to visit a doctor first before taking any medication or applying drastic changes to your lifestyle. The treatment should be catered to your needs, as its main objective is to help you be healthier and avoid any life-threatening complications.
Dyslipidemia: What Is It?
As we briefly mentioned in this article’s introduction, being diagnosed with dyslipidemia means having unhealthy levels of one or more kinds of lipid in your blood. To have a better understanding, it’s important to provide more information about what this condition entails. Dyslipidemia is the imbalance of lipids such as cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, (LDL-C), triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)[2].
It’s also important to know what lipids are to better understand how their imbalance, either organic or inorganic, can cause dyslipidemia.
Lipids, such as cholesterol or triglycerides, are absorbed from the intestines and are carried throughout the body via lipoproteins for energy, steroid production, or bile acid formation[3]. If a person is diagnosed with dyslipidemia it may be due to high LDL levels, it can also mean that their HDL levels are below average.
LDL cholesterol is considered the “bad” type of cholesterol because it can build up and form plaques in the walls of the arteries. This can lead to too much plaque in the arteries of the heart and can cause a heart attack. On the other hand, HDL is the “good” cholesterol because it helps remove LDL from your blood.
Triglycerides are stored in fat cells and come from the calories that don’t burn right away. If a person eats more calories than they burn, it’s possible that their triglycerides levels increase. High LDL and triglyceride levels put people at a higher risk for heart attack and stroke, while low levels of HDL cholesterol are linked to higher heart disease risks.
There are two types of dyslipidemia: primary and secondary. The former is inherited, while the latter is acquired or developed from other causes, such as obesity or diabetes. Dyslipidemia can also refer to levels that are either higher or lower than the normal range for the aforementioned blood fats[4].
Dyslipidemia Symptoms
There are no evident symptoms for dyslipidemia and blood tests are required in order to determine if a person has this condition. If dyslipidemia goes undiagnosed and untreated, it can bring forth serious complications, such as cardiovascular disease, which can be symptomatic. High LDL cholesterol levels are associated with coronary artery disease, the blockage in the arteries of your heart, and peripheral artery disease , which is blockage in the arteries of your legs.
The former can lead to chest pain and eventually a heart attack, while the main symptom of the latter is leg pain when walking. According to one study[5], “the prevalence of dyslipidemia increases with age. In 2005-2008 an estimated 33.5% of U.S. adults older than 20 years of age had high LDL-C levels. Of these individuals with elevated LDL-C levels, only 48.1% received treatment, and 33.2% had their LDL-C controlled. The prevalence of LDL-C control seemed to be the lowest amongst individuals that were uninsured, Mexican American, or having income below the poverty level”.
Risk Factors
While primary dyslipidemia is inherited, there are several risk factors or behaviors that can increase the chances of a person developing this condition. Among the most prevalent ones, we have smoking cigarettes, obesity, consumption of foods high in saturated fat and trans fat, as well as high alcohol consumption.
Other medical conditions that can raise your dyslipidemia risk include:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Hypothyroidism
- Chronic kidney disease
Obesity and Dyslipidemia
According to one study[6], obesity is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, but it appears that much of this effect is accounted for by obesity inducing dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, and inflammation. While dyslipidemia is not inherent to obesity or having excessive weight, researchers have found that “abnormalities in lipid metabolism are very commonly observed in patients who are obese. Approximately 60-70% of patients with obesity are dyslipidemic.” [7]
At LIMARP®, we offer an integrative treatment plan that adjusts to the needs of each patient. If you or someone you know currently struggles with obesity or is looking for a way to lose weight in a healthy way, our doors are always open for people from all over the country and across the border. After an initial consultation, we’ll determine the best way to begin your treatment, which may or may not include weight loss surgery. There are many ways to treat obesity and lose weight, including plans that focus on eating healthy and improving the patient’s overall health.
Treating Dyslipidemia
Whether the patient has obesity or not, it’s very important to treat dyslipidemia as soon as it’s diagnosed and avoid any complications, such as coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease. Treatment for dyslipidemia include:
- The use of statins to reduce LDL levels by interfering with cholesterol production in the liver.
- Cholesterol medication, like fibrates, to be taken with or in place of statins.
- Lifestyle changes, like exercising and starting a healthy diet.
Contact Us to Learn More
If you want to learn more about dyslipidemia, as well as its symptoms and available treatment, schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. We can help determine the right treatment for you. Contact us online anytime or give us a call at (619) 373-0229.
References
[1] “Most Obese Countries 2022”. https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/most-obese-countries. (Accessed April 4, 2023).
[2] Pappan N, Rehman A. Dyslipidemia. [Updated 2022 Jul 11]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560891/
[3] Rader DJ, Hoeg JM, Brewer HB Jr. Quantitation of plasma apolipoproteins in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary artery disease. Ann Intern Med. 1994 Jun 15;120(12):1012-25. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-120-12-199406150-00008. PMID: 8185133.
[4] “Dyslipidemia: What You Need to Know”. https://www.healthline.com/health/dyslipidemia. (Accessed April 24, 2023).
[5] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vital signs: prevalence, treatment, and control of high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol–United States, 1999-2002 and 2005-200. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011 Feb 4;60(4):109-14. PMID: 21293326.
[6] Bays HE, Toth PP, Kris-Etherton PM, Abate N, Aronne LJ, Brown WV, Gonzalez-Campoy JM, Jones SR, Kumar R, La Forge R, Samuel VT. Obesity, adiposity, and dyslipidemia: a consensus statement from the National Lipid Association. J Clin Lipidol. 2013 Jul-Aug;7(4):304-83. doi: 10.1016/j.jacl.2013.04.001. Epub 2013 May 31. PMID: 23890517.
[7] Feingold KR. Obesity and Dyslipidemia. [Updated 2020 Nov 2]. In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Blackman MR, et al., editors. Endotext [Internet]. South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.; 2000-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK305895/
