Obesity is defined as a body mass index greater than 30. While carrying a little extra weight may not seem like a big problem when you don't have adverse side effects, your obesity could be affecting your health without your knowledge. Obesity can lead to a myriad of health problems, which can increase your health costs, slow the function of your body and even decrease your life expectancy. Getting your weight under control is the only way to diminish the health risks of obesity.
Heart Disease
Excess fat in the body is responsible for creating plaque in the arteries. Plaque is a mixture of fat, cholesterol and calcium and is more prevalent in obese individuals. The arteries are responsible for carrying blood to your heart and other areas of your body. When those arteries are clogged with plaque, you may experience heart disease, stroke and even complete heart failure. By losing weight, you reduce the pressure put on your arteries and can work with your doctor to help reduce plaque buildup.
Cancer
It may sound surprising, but obesity increases your risk for a number of cancers, including colon, kidney and esophageal cancers. These cancers can then spread to other areas of your body, which could cause failure and death. While the direct link between cancer and obesity is not known, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases hypothesizes that obesity can affect cell growth, while the lifestyle choices that often lead to obesity can also lead to cancer as well.
Type 2 Diabetes
Over 90 percent of diabetes sufferers have type 2 diabetes, which is directly related to your weight and lifestyle. With elevated levels of blood sugar comes an overproduction of insulin. As you continue to stay obese, your body becomes less sensitive to insulin, which means you could sustain dangerously high blood sugar levels for long periods of time, leading to stroke, blindness, kidney failure and heart disease. Carrying excess weight, eating an unhealthy diet and leading a sedentary lifestyle can all contribute to both a obesity and type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
Osteoarthritis
When your body is constantly carrying more weight than it should, it can have a direct effect on your joints, warns the American Heart Association. The weight slowly deteriorates the joints until you're suffering from osteoarthritis, a condition where the cartilage that protects your bones and joints gradually begins to wear away. This can causes severe pain and contribute to inactivity and even disability over time. Losing weight can help you regain mobility and control your symptoms via activity and medications.
References
- CDC: Defining Overweight and Obesity
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Are the Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity?
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Do You Know the Health Risks of Being Overweight?
- The Obesity Society: Your Weight and Diabetes
- American Heart Association: Obesity Information
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