Services El Latino
Obesity in the United States is associated with an increase in digestive diseases and metabolic disorders affecting tens of millions of people, warned Dr. Acosta Then.
In the context of World Digestive Health Day, the specialist noted that between 60 and 70 million people in the country live with a gastrointestinal disorder that remains undiagnosed or improperly treated.
“Between 60 and 70 million people in the United States are living with a digestive disease without giving it the attention it deserves,” she said.
Acosta Then explained that obesity should be understood as a complex metabolic condition and not merely as excess body weight. “A healthy digestive system is key to an efficient metabolism,” she stated.
She also highlighted the importance of the gut microbiota, which she described as a “metabolic organ” with an impact on conditions such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
Acosta Then warned that conditions such as fatty liver disease and acid reflux are increasingly linked to metabolic imbalances. In this context, she emphasized that digestive health is also connected to longevity and quality of life.
“Today we are not only talking about living longer, but about living better,” she said, referring to the concept of healthspan, focused on years lived in good health.
The specialist cautioned that symptoms such as persistent inflammation, heartburn, constipation, fatigue, or heavy digestion are often normalized, even though they are warning signs from the body.
Finally, she stated that digestive care should be preventive and include habits such as balanced nutrition, stress management, and adequate rest, as well as emerging medical therapies such as peptides and GLP-1-based treatments, always under professional supervision.