Obesity is nothing but a state where our body weight is much higher than the required weight. An obese person’s Body Mass Index (BMI) is higher than 35 and weight is 30% more than what it should be.
Body weight should be according to our height and weight. If the BMI increases to more than 40, the health complications of obesity become severe. At such a stage, the condition is known as morbid obesity, which may even cause death of the patient.
The main causes of obesity are over eating, unhealthy eating habits and unhealthy lifestyle. Obesity is also caused by continuous desk jobs with no recreational activities like gym, yoga, aerobics and dancing. In this article we are going to discuss the health problems that obesity causes in peoples. Health effects of obesity can be very serious.
Health Risks of Obesity
The Risks To Your Health:
High blood Pressure and Heart Diseases
High blood pressure and heart diseases are somewhat interrelated. People who are obese are more prone to have high blood pressure due to which the risk for impaired heart functioning , enlarged heart, and heart stroke also increases. The extra fat in the body decreases the supply of oxygen to the heart, leading to chest pain. This combined with high levels of cholesterol and blood pressure, highly multiplies the chances of heart failure.
High Cholesterol Levels
High cholesterol is one of the leading causes of heart attacks. Cholesterol is transported through your blood in two ways: the low –density lipoprotein (LDL), which transports cholesterol to the cells that need it, and the high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which is the healthy cholesterol that reduces your risk for heart attack. Having high LDL levels raises your risk of having heart disease by 20 percent. Losing 11-20 pounds can help you significantly reduce your cholesterol level.
Diabetes
Obesity is considered one of the most significant factors in the development of insulin resistance, and insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, more than 90 percent of diabetes patients worldwide have type 2 diabetes. Being overweight or obese contributes to the development of diabetes by making cells more resistant to the effects of insulin. A weight loss of 15-20 pounds can help you decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Breathing Problems
These include asthma, mouth breathing, sleep apnea, and so on. These make you feel suffocated, and consequently, can even lead to heart failure. Sleep apnea can make you feel sleepy and lethargic all the time.
Gout
The more is your body weight, the more you would be susceptible to gout. If your blood has a high amount of uric acid, then it forms into crystal-like substance and solidifies in and around the joints of your body. It is also found that a sudden change in the diet within a short span of time, can also increase the chances of gout attack. Therefore, it is advisable to consult with your doctor if you are planning to go on a special diet.
Skin Problems
Intertrigo is an infection that could be fungal or bacterial, and develops in the broken skin. Occurrence of stretch marks and cellulitis, in which a particular area of the body swells and goes red with a burning sensation and tends to spread rapidly, is also fairly common. A skin disease called Acanthosis Nigricans in which the neck, underarms, or groin tend to develop a dark brown, velvety surface, is also commonly seen.
Diabetes Causes
Back Pain
Obesity is one the contributing factors of back and joint pain. Excessive weight can cause injury to the most vulnerable parts of the spine, which carries the body’s weight. When it has to carry excess weight, the odds of suffering from a spinal injury or structural damage increase. Being overweight also raises the risk of developing osteoporosis, lower back pain, arthritis, and osteoarthritis. Losing 10-15 pounds can help you decrease the risk of developing these problems.
Cancer
Several types of cancer are associated with obesity. In women, these include cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast, and colon. Overweight men are at greater risk of developing cancer of the colon, rectum, and prostate.
For some types of cancer, such as colon or breast, it is not clear whether the increased risk is due to the extra weight or to a high-fat and high-calorie diet, this, of course, being strongly associated with weight problems as a consequence.