Obesity is Not Just About Eating and Exercise, Here is the Explanation of a Doctor

Illustration of obesity. (Freepik)

JAKARTA - Obesity is often associated with excessive eating habits and lack of movement. In fact, the reality is not that simple. Many people have tried to regulate their diet and exercise routines, but weight is still difficult to lose or even go back up. This shows that obesity involves a much more complex body mechanism.

Clinical nutrition specialist, Diana Suganda, Sp.GK, M.Kes., explained that obesity is a chronic disease with multifactorial causes, not just a matter of balance between calorie intake and expenditure.

"Obesity is very complex, not just intake and output. There are many multifactorial factors," he said in a health discussion in Jakarta, Wednesday.

The graduate of the University of Indonesia's clinical nutrition specialist said that hormonal factors are one of the important components. In the body there are hormones that regulate hunger, fullness, and appetite. In some individuals, this system does not work optimally. Someone can eat a sufficient amount, but still feel hungry.

"It means there are signals in our bodies that are not right. So it's not just a matter of eating and exercising. There are many factors that hinder, causing sometimes people have gone down, eating, exercising, but can come back again," he explained.

According to Diana, the study also found a "memory" in the body's cells that plays a role in the tendency to gain weight again after it has gone down. Hormonal changes and adaptation of stomach capacity also affect the emergence of hunger and the urge to eat more.

"That's a lot of what I've met in practice. The weight has dropped, but it will go up again. It's the hormonal issues that make the error," he added.

To help control weight, he emphasizes the importance of implementing mindful eating or eating with full awareness. By understanding the body's needs and regulating portions appropriately, a person can still enjoy food at certain moments without being excessive.

"The importance of mindful eating. So you want Eid, Christmas, yes, just eat but know the portion. Because you know the portion, you know how much you need, it's enough, you won't eat too much," he said.

A more comprehensive approach, including understanding biological factors and more conscious eating habits, is considered the key to sustainably managing obesity.