Endocrine Abstracts

The aim of the research was to reveal and assess the interaction between environmental and hereditary factors in obese patients seeking for weight loss.

Materials and methods: We analysed the anamnesis of 134 overweight and obese patients, having asked to endocrinologist for losing weight (20 men and 112 women). The mean age of the respondents was 45.78+8, 76 years. 15.7% of patients were overweight, and 84.3% were obese. Heritability of obesity was determined according to family history of obesity, anamnesis of diabetes in relatives, childhood appearance of excess body weight. The environmental changes included eating habits, level of physical activity and water regime of participants.

Results: The assessment of the hereditary factors of obesity revealed that 76.5% (101 person) had a family history of obesity: 59.7% (80 patients) mentioned excess body weight on the maternal line and 40.3% (54 patients) described obesity for father’s relatives. Diabetes was diagnosed in 14.9% (20 persons) – on the maternal line and in 9.7% (13 persons) on the fatherly line. 41% of respondents (55 patients) remarked childhood obesity in themselves. The analysis of environmental factors showed that 71, 7% of respondents skipping meals during the day, 13.4% (18 persons) had only one meal, 55.2% (74 persons) had 2–3 meals/day. Everyday moderate activity 30 min or more described only 11% of respondents, physical activity 30 min or less 3 days a week described 46% of patients, 30 min of activity 5–6 times a week 43% patients. The vast majority of patients 97.7% drank <2 l of water per day.

Conclusions: The occurrences of obesity relatives was 59.7% on the maternal line, 40.3% on the paternal line. Interaction with environment factors related to low physical activity and inadequate water consumption.