Being overweight makes you susceptible to a wide range of health problems, and can make you tired as well. The most common way to determine whether you are overweight is to calculate your body mass index, or BMI. You can use a mathematical formula, readily available online, or you can skip the math and use an online BMI calculator. BMI scores between 25 and 29.9 are considered overweight, and over 30 is considered obese.
Poor Diet
Being overweight because of a poor diet can lead to fatigue. A high intake of fast food or junk food, refined sugars found in carbonated beverages, candy and processed snacks, and white flour results in higher fat storage in your body and a deficiency of vital nutrients. A healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, complex carbohydrates, lean meats, and whole-grain foods such as brown rice and whole-wheat pasta provides more sustainable energy. An iron deficiency can also contribute to fatigue.
Inactivity
Being inactive over a prolonged time causes a rise in cholesterol and fat storage in your body, because you are burning fewer calories than you are taking in. Lack of exercise also leads to less cardiovascular and muscular stamina, which causes you to feel tired.
Sleep Apnea
Being overweight can cause you to have trouble sleeping at night. According to the website KidsHealth, a common sleeping problem among overweight people is sleep apnea, in which you stop breathing temporarily while asleep. This starting and stopping of respiration interrupts your sleep cycle and leads you to feel tired throughout the day.
Depression
Being overweight causes some people to become depressed and have low self-esteem based on their physical appearance. It can make you feel tired as well. The National Institute of Mental Health lists fatigue, decreased energy, insomnia and overeating as common symptoms of depression. Moreover, these symptoms can lead to a cycle of behavior that tends to make an obesity problem worse.
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