Endogenous Obesity

Obesity is a common medical condition in the United States, having reached epidemic proportions. Exogenous and endogenous are the two primary categories of obesity. As the prefix suggests, exogenous obesity occurs due to external lifestyle factors, such as eating too much, and endogenous obesity has internal causes. If you or a loved one is obese, it is important to know which classification you fall under so that your doctor can determine the best treatment course.

Overview

As of 2012, it is estimated that approximately 75 million Americans are obese, according to the American Heart Association. Of these, a small percentage suffers from endogenous obesity, which is caused by an endocrine system disruption. The endocrine glands are a complex system of communication that regulate the level of hormones in your body. It is controlled by a delicate feedback system that senses when your hormones are too low or too high and adjusts accordingly.

Specific Hormones

A number of endocrine abnormalities result in endogenous obesity, including tumors that cause your body to secrete too much insulin and the inability of your thyroid to produce enough thyroid hormone. Leptin resistance is another common cause of endogenous obesity, according to Kathryn McCance, author of "The Biologic Basis for Disease." Leptin is a hormone that regulates your fat metabolism. When there is an error, your body continuously stores fat, thinking it does not have enough for your energy needs.

Signs

Endogenous obesity is challenging to diagnose. Physicians tend to start with a healthy eating plan when presented with an obese patient, automatically assuming that diet is the cause. One of the primary signs of endogenous obesity is an inability to lose weight, even when following a healthy diet. This typically points to an endogenous cause, according to Michael L. Power, author of "The Evolution of Obesity" Your doctor can perform a number of tests to help narrow the cause, if this is the case.

Treatment and Prognosis

Your doctor will check for endocrine tumors and run tests to examine hormone levels to help diagnose the cause. Treatment depends on what is causing your endogenous obesity. Your doctor may recommend surgery if an operable tumor is the cause. In some cases, your doctor might prescribe an anti-obesity drug. These medicines work in a variety of ways by blocking certain hormones that are contributing to weight gain. As with all drugs, anti-obesity medications have side effects, so discuss them with your doctor.