Calories in food provide needed energy for body functions and activities. A balance of energy consumed and energy burned is necessary for healthy weight maintenance. When extra calories are consumed, the balance is disturbed, and consequences may be dire--especially over the long term.
Short-Term Weight Gain
It takes 3,500 calories to store 1 lb. of fat, according to weightlossforall.com. That means that for every additional 100 calories consumed per day, 1 lb. of body weight in fat is gained after 35 days. This results in a 10-lb. weight gain per year.
Long-Term Weight Gain
Additional calories consumed on a regular basis lead to continued weight gain over time, increasing the likelihood of eventual obesity.
Health Risks
Chronic diseases are more common in obese and overweight individuals. These include diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, joint degeneration, sleep apnea and some forms of cancer.
Financial Impact
In 2002, more than $92 billion was spent on health care due to overweight and obesity, according to economic cost statistics outlined in the Weight-control Information Network (WIN) report by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK).
Mortality
The Weight-control Information Network reported that people who are obese have a 10- to 50-percent increased risk of death compared to those who are not obese. Most of this risk is attributed to cardiovascular causes. As of 2005, obesity was associated with about 112,000 excess deaths per year in the U.S. population relative to healthy weight individuals, according to the Weight-control Information Network.
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