Your body mass index, or BMI, is a measure of your weight in relation to your height. The range for a healthy BMI is 18.5 to 24.9. As your BMI increases above the healthy range, your risk of developing serious health problems increases. A BMI of 30 or above, which is considered obese, can be especially damaging to your health.
Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease occurs when plaque builds up in the walls of your arteries. The accumulation of plaque increases the risk of blood clots and narrows the flow of blood to your heart, which can result in a heart attack or stroke. People with a BMI above 30 are three times more likely to have coronary heart disease than those with a BMI less than 21, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. People with a BMI over 30 also tend to have unhealthy cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which contribute to the build-up of plaque that can lead to coronary heart disease.
High Blood Pressure and Stroke
High blood pressure, according to Medline Plus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, is the number one risk factor for strokes. The chance of having high blood pressure increases as your BMI increases. In people with a BMI over 30, 38 percent of men and 32 percent of women have high blood pressure.
Type 2 Diabetes
People with a BMI over 30 are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body does not process insulin properly. For each unit of BMI over 22, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increases by approximately 25 percent.
Respiratory Problems
Having a BMI over 30 is also a risk factor for developing sleep apnea, a respiratory problem in which breathing stops or becomes very shallow for short periods during sleep. People with upper body obesity are especially at risk for sleep apnea because of extra fat stored around the neck that makes it difficult to breathe.
Cancer
Certain types of cancer, including colon cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer and gallbladder cancer, are associated with obesity. The incidence of distal colon cancer is two times greater in women with a BMI of 30 or above than in those with a BMI less than 21, and the risk of endometrial cancer is three times greater in women whose BMI is 30 or above. Obesity is a risk factor for breast cancer in postmenopausal women, but not in premenopausal women.
Other Risks
Other risks of having a BMI over 30 include osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease, menstrual irregularities and complications of pregnancy. Obese people also suffer from emotional stress and psychological disorders, such as social stigmatization, binge eating and negative body image perceptions.
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