Gallbladder, gout, and lower back and leg pain: The chain reaction of obesity's damage to the digestive system and musculoskeletal system.

Obese individuals are more prone to cholecystitis and gallstones.

The gallbladder is a sac-like organ located below the liver. Its function is to store bile secreted by the liver and participate in the digestion and absorption of fats. Normal bile contains a certain amount of bile acids and lecithin, which can emulsify fats into fine particles and keep cholesterol in a dissolved state.

Cholecystitis is a common and frequently occurring inflammatory disease of the gallbladder. Cholelithiasis refers to the formation of stones in the bile duct and gallbladder. Because gallstones in the gallbladder irritate the gallbladder wall and easily cause inflammation, cholecystitis and cholelithiasis often occur simultaneously.

The occurrence of gallstones is related to a patient's diet. People whose diets are primarily animal-based have a higher incidence of gallstones than those whose diets are primarily plant-based. Most obese patients have diets high in animal products and fat, while consuming relatively few plant-based foods. Furthermore, obese individuals, especially those with abdominal obesity, experience decreased gallbladder contraction function, leading to cholesterol buildup in bile, which is also a significant contributing factor to gallstone development. Therefore, obese individuals are at a much higher risk of developing cholecystitis and gallstones than those of normal weight.

Obese individuals are more prone to gout.

Gout is a disease caused by purine metabolism disorder. Its main manifestations include recurrent acute unilateral arthritis, tophi deposition in and around the joints, joint stiffness and deformity, kidney damage, and hyperuricemia. Hyperuricemia is the most prominent characteristic of gout. In the early stages of gout, there are no other obvious symptoms, only elevated blood uric acid levels, making it difficult to detect. It is usually discovered during physical examinations or when checking for other diseases. As blood uric acid concentration increases, the risk of gout also increases until a definitive diagnosis is made after the onset of acute gouty arthritis symptoms. Then, gout remissions and attacks alternate, gradually developing into tophi and chronic gouty arthritis.

The causes of gout include multiple factors such as age, gender, genetics, dietary habits, and lifestyle. Generally, it affects people over 40 years of age, with men significantly more affected than women. Overweight or obese individuals have a significantly higher probability of developing the disease than those of normal or underweight weight. Statistics show that over 70% of observed gout patients are overweight or obese. Numerous studies have found a positive correlation between hyperuricemia and hypertriglyceridemia and weight, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. Therefore, weight loss is a very effective way to prevent and treat gout.

Overweight people are prone to lower back and leg pain.

Almost all obese people suffer from the aches and pains that come with obesity. So why do obese people often experience these problems? The reason is simple: excessive weight gain is like carrying a heavy burden. Excess fat is mainly concentrated in the upper limbs, chest, abdomen, and waist, putting heavy pressure on the joints of the lower limbs. When they are in situations where they are not physically active, this can easily lead to damage to the lumbar spine, lower back muscles, and lower limb joints, resulting in conditions such as lower back pain and osteoarthritis. Clinically, it has been found that almost all obese people suffer from lower back and leg pain, which is truly a source of great suffering for them.