Obesity is a problem that continues to be a top health concern to people of all levels of society. The risk of premature death increases as a person gains excess weight. Studies show that persons who are 40 per cent overweight are two times more prone to premature deaths than persons with average weight. This can happen in a span of 10 to 30 years.
Obesity affects the health of all people around the world. Each year, tens of thousands of people die of diseases associated with obesity. In America alone, an estimated 300,000 people die each year due to obesity-related sicknesses, the Center for Disease Control reported.
Being conscious of your weight or body mass index is an important step towards maintaining your health and increasing your longevity. It does not only involve keeping your weight normal by controlling your diet and engaging in physical exercises; it also entails knowledge of the consequences should you fail to keep your weight within normal.
Here are some of the health risks of obesity:
1. Heart Diseases
An overweight person is exposed to an increased risk of heart attacks and cardiovascular diseases. The excess fat in the body also raises a person's chances of getting high blood pressure and decreases his level of good cholesterol.
2. Stroke
Obesity is associated with high cholesterol and lack of physical activity. This can lead to the formation of plaques in the arterial walls which can narrow the arteries and trigger high blood pressure. Atherosclerosis or the narrowing or the arteries is a precondition to many cases of strokes.
3. Type 2 Diabetes
According to the Mayo clinic, persons who are 11 to 18 pounds overweight are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as persons whose weights are within normal. It further stated that more than 80 percent of people who have type 2 diabetes are obese.
4. Cancer
Obesity is also associated with the increased risk of cancer, including cancer of the uterus, cancer of the kidney, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and post menopausal breast cancer.
5. Fatty Liver Disease
Obesity can trigger insulin resistance which can lead to fatty liver disease. Insulin resistance is a metabolic disorder which causes the cells to become insensitive to insulin.
6. Gallbladder Disease
Obese people are three times more prone to develop gallstones than people with normal body mass index.
7. Breathing Problems
Obesity is associated with cases of obstructive sleep apnea, asthma, severe bronchitis, respiratory insufficiency and hypoventilation syndrome.
8. Arthritis
Joint pains, osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal disorders are among the negative consequences of obesity. Recent studies show that most people who have osteoarthritis are overweight.
9. Pregnancy Related Problems
Obesity can have a negative effect on the health of expectant mothers and their babies both during pregnancy and after childbirth. Pregnant women who are obese are ten time more likely to develop high blood pressure than non-obese women. This is one of the leading causes of deaths of both baby and mother.
These are some of the health risks of obesity. You should reduce or shed off excess weight to reduce your chance of developing diseases related to it.
