Health Risks Associated With Obesity

Health Risks Associated With Obesity

Obesity is not just a cosmetic problem. It's a health hazard. Someone who
is 40% overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely than an
average-weight person. This is because obesity has been linked to several
serious medical conditions including.

Heart disease and stroke
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Cancer
Gallbladder disease and gallstones
Osteoarthritis
Gout
Breathing problems, such as sleep apnea (when a person stops breathing for
a short time during sleep) and asthma
Doctors generally agree that the more obese a person is, the more likely he
or she is to have health problems. People who are 20% or more overweight
can gain significant health benefits from losing weight. Many obesity
experts believe that people who are less than 20% above their healthy
weight should still try to lose weight if they have any of the following
risk factors.

Family history of certain chronic diseases. People with close relatives who
have had heart disease or diabetes are more likely to develop these
problems if they are obese.
Pre-existing medical conditions. High blood pressure, high cholesterol
levels, or high blood sugar levels are all warning signs of some
obesity-associated diseases.
"Apple" shape. People whose weight is concentrated around their stomachs
may be at greater risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, or cancer
than people of the same weight who are "pear-shaped" (they carry their
weight in their hips and buttocks).
Fortunately, even a modest weight loss of 10 to 20 pounds can bring
significant health improvements, such as lowering one's blood pressure and
cholesterol levels.

How Is Obesity Linked to Heart Disease and Stroke?

Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death and disability for
people in the U.S. Overweight people are more likely to have high blood
pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, than people who
are not overweight. Very high blood levels of cholesterol can also lead to
heart disease and often are linked to being overweight. Being overweight
also contributes to angina (chest pain caused by decreased oxygen to the
heart) and sudden death from heart disease or stroke without any signs or
symptoms.

The good news is that losing a small amount of weight can reduce your
chances of developing heart disease or a stroke. Reducing your weight by
10% can decrease your chance of developing heart disease.

How Is Obesity Linked to Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes reduces your body's ability to control blood sugar. It is a
major cause of early death, heart disease, stroke, and blindness.
Overweight people are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared
to normal weight people. You can reduce your risk of developing type 2
diabetes by losing weight and exercising more. If you have type 2 diabetes,
losing weight and becoming more physically active can help control your
blood sugar levels. Increasing your physical activity may also allow you to
reduce the amount of diabetes medication you need.

How Is Obesity and Cancer Linked?

Several types of cancer are associated with being overweight. In women,
these include cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast, and
colon. Overweight men are at higher risk for developing colorectal cancer
and prostate cancer. 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, high-calorie diet.

How Is Obesity Related to Gallbladder Disease?

Gallbladder disease and gallstones are more common if you are overweight.
Your risk of disease increases as your weight increases. It is not clear
how being overweight may cause gallbladder disease.

Ironically, weight loss itself, particularly rapid weight loss or loss of a
large amount of weight, can actually increase your chances of developing
gallstones. Modest, slow weight loss of about 1 pound a week is less likely
to cause gallstones.

How Does Obesity Cause Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is a common joint condition that most often affects the
joints in your knees, hips, and lower back. Carrying extra pounds increases
the risk of osteoarthritis by placing extra pressure on these joints and
wearing away the cartilage (tissue that cushions the joints) that normally
protects them.

Weight loss can decrease stress on the knees, hips, and lower back and may
improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

How Is Obesity Linked to Gout?

Gout is a disease that affects the joints that is caused by high levels of
a substance called uric acid in the blood. The large amount of uric acid
can form into solid or crystal-like masses that deposit in the joints. Gout
is more common in overweight people and the risk of developing the disorder
increases with higher body weights.

Over the short term, certain dietary changes may lead to an attack of gout
in people who have high levels of uric acid or who have had gout before. If
you have a history of gout, check with your doctor before trying to lose
weight.

How Is Obesity Linked to Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea is a serious breathing condition that is associated with being
overweight. Sleep apnea can cause a person to snore heavily and to stop
breathing for short periods during sleep. Sleep apnea may cause daytime
sleepiness and even heart failure. The risk for sleep apnea increases as
body weight increases. Weight loss usually improves sleep apnea.