Obesity and diabetes mellitus: a narrative review and the use of health information tools and technologies

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity is a chronic disease, defined by the World Health Organization, which is characterized by excess body fat, in an amount that harms health. It has a multifactorial origin, with social and environmental factors being the most at risk, due to unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity. Obesity affects quality of life and reduces life expectancy, being directly related to the development of non-communicable chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Objective: To present available electronic tools and health technologies that address obesity associated with diabetes mellitus. Methodology: this narrative review was developed from information extracted from electronic bibliographic databases (Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Capes Periodicals and Lilacs) and from Vigitel, a surveillance system for Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, carried out by telephone survey; use of the MySugr electronic application, which helps in the daily treatment of diabetes mellitus; and the presentation of data from DATASUS, on admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic period and the number of obese and diabetic individuals registered in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Results: the data adopted in this work were related to overweight individuals. Few articles found associate diabetes mellitus with obesity, especially in adults. And no current electronic newsletters were found correlating the two diseases. Conclusion: More investments are needed in health information systems, which include computerized tools and the management and processing bases of primary and secondary statistical data.