About 38 percent of adults in the United States are obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Being obese increases your risk for serious health problems, including coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. To reduce your risk, maintain a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
Determine Your Risk
The body mass index helps you determine whether you are overweight or obese. To calculate your BMI, use an online calculator such as the one at the Weight-control Information Network website, or figure it out by dividing your weight in pounds by your height in inches squared, and multiplying by 703. If your BMI is 25 to 29.9, you are overweight. With a BMI of greater than 30, you are considered to be obese.
Coronary Artery Disease
If you are obese, you are at increased risk for high blood pressure, high triglycerides and high LDL cholesterol levels. These conditions increase your likelihood of developing coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease develops when plaque builds up in your arteries, causing your arteries to narrow. As a result, your heart may not receive adequate blood supply, which could lead to heart failure. You can reduce your risk for coronary artery disease by losing only 5 to 10 percent of your body weight.
Type 2 Diabetes
Over 85 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. When you have type 2 diabetes, sugar builds up in your bloodstream. This condition can lead to kidney disease, stroke, amputation, blindness or death. Losing just 5 to 7 percent of your body weight and performing 30 minutes of exercise, five days a week may reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes, according to a study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.
Cancer
Being obese may also raise your risk for cancer of the kidneys, esophagus and colon. If you are female, your risk for uterine and postmenopausal breast cancer is also increased. Weight gain during your adult life is one of the main risk factors for these cancers. If you are overweight or obese, you may be able to reduce your risk by losing weight. For more information about healthy weight loss, visit the CDC website.
References
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: U.S. Obesity Trends; July 2011
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD); December 2009
- MayoClinic.com: Type 2 Diabetes; May 2011
- Weight-control Information Network: Do You Know the Health Risks of Being Overweight?; December 2007
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About BMI for Adults
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