[Obesity as a cause and result of disability].

The aim of the review is to determine complex relations between obesity and disability. Obesity is defined as an abnormal, pathologic increase in body fat. This disease results from environmental factors, like: low level of physical activity, excessive intake of high energy food and genetic predisposition to storage of fat. The health consequences of obesity are chronic diseases: diabetes mellitus type 2, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, certain types of cancers and also psychosocial problems, which together have an adverse effect on quality of life. The consequences of this comorbidities and conditions are also higher rates of disability in this group of people. Limitations in everyday functioning of the overweight and obese people are the consequence of comorbidities, for example: diseases of the circulatory system and late diabetic complications. The leading cause of disability (especially in functional area) is impairement of the musculoskeletal system, caused by excessive weight, for ex. chronic back pain. In this case the mechanism of "vicious cycle" is observed where sedentary lifestyle contributes to obesity and obesity exacerbates disability. The role of physical inactivity in the development of weight gain emphasises the fact that among people with disabling conditions rates of obesity are significantly higher.