Dangers of Obesity
Many people just don’t bother to take their weight problems seriously. They feel it is just a cosmetic disorder. This is far from the truth. Obesity is a serious health problem and is causes around 300,000 deaths per year, second only to smoking.
Obesity leads to serious health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, cancer, diabetes, osteoarthritis, gallstones, gallbladder disease, gout, and breathing problems like asthma. Due to this a person who is 40% overweight is said to be twice as likely to die prematurely as compared to an average weight person.
A list of the different health problems caused by obesity includes:
Heart Disease & Stroke
A heart disease affects the normal functioning of the heart and it results in blood not circulating properly. Heart diseases can lead to problems like a heart attack, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina (chest pain), or abnormal heart rhythm. When a person suffers from stroke it results in blood and oxygen not reaching the brain.
High levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats) in the blood can lead to strokes and heart disease. Doctors say that even a weight gain of 20 pounds doubles the risk of heart disease.
Type 2 Diabetes
In type 2 diabetes the blood sugar of the person goes above the normal level. When a person is obese or overweight it affects the cells causing them to become less effective in removing sugar from blood. As a result there is more pressure put on the insulin producing cells as a result of which they gradually stop working.
Weight gain increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and it has been found that 80% of the people suffering from diabetes are overweight or obese.
Cancer
Cancer is a leading cause of death in the U.S. Though cancer need not necessarily originate from obesity but obesity does increase the chances of certain types of cancers. These cancers include cancers of the colon, esophagus, and kidney, and uterine and postmenopausal breast cancer in women.
It is believed that being overweight or obese causes the fat cells in the body to make hormones that affect cell growth and can lead to cancer.
Liver Disease
When fat builds up in the liver it can lead to liver disease and can result in injury and inflammation in the liver. Fat can also cause severe liver damage, cirrhosis and even liver failure.
High Blood Pressure
Being overweight or obese is a leading cause of high blood pressure. According to doctors being 20% overweight makes you eight times more likely to suffer from high blood pressure as compared to an averaged weight person.
Sleep Apnea
When a person stops breathing for short periods in the night, the condition is termed as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is caused when fat gets stored around the neck resulting in narrowing of the airway. Fat stored in the body can also cause inflammation in the neck, this can also causes sleep apnea.
Gout
Gout is caused due to a high level of uric acid in the blood. Sometimes uric acid forms into solid stone or crystal masses that get deposited in the joints. Gout is a problem that is usually experienced by overweight people.
Problems in Women
Women who are obese often suffer from irregularities in the menstrual cycles and infertility. If a woman is obese during pregnancy it increases the risk of death of both the mother and the child. It also leads to an increase the risk of maternal high blood pressure by 10 times. Obesity during pregnancy can also cause birth defects, particularly neural tube defects.
Gallstones
Being overweight is a major factor for the formation of gallstones. Gallstones are solid clusters that form in the gallbladder. They are usually made of cholesterol and overweight people produce more cholesterol, hence they are at risk.
Urinary Stress Incontinence
A large, heavy abdomen and relaxation of the pelvic muscles, especially associated with the effects of childbirth, may cause the valve on the urinary bladder to be weakened, leading to leakage of urine with coughing, sneezing, or laughing.
A healthy diet and regular physical activity are both important for maintaining a healthy weight. Even a small decrease in calories consumed and an increase in physical activity can help prevent weight gain or facilitate weight loss.
Hyperlipidemia
Hyperlipidemia refers to high cholesterol in the body and it is caused by a build up of fatty substances in the arteries. Due to this the arteries narrow and become hard as a result of which blood flow to the heart goes down. This can result in chest pain and heart attacks. Hyperlipidemia is caused by several factors but an increase in weight is a leading cause.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a join disorder where the joint bone cartilage wears away. It usually affects the knees, hips, and lower back. Osteoarthritis is usually caused by an increase in the body weight as it exerts extra pressure on the joints and cartilage. People who have more body fat also face the risk of inflammation at the joints and this may cause osteoarthritis. There is an 8 to 12% increase in the risk of developing Osteoarthritis with every 2 pound increase in weight.
Varicose Veins
Varicose veins are formed when valves in the veins weaken and due to this veins permanently dilate. Blood is not pumped around the body instead it pools in the veins. Having excess weight in the body leads to varicose veins and when a person looses weight it helps in the treatment.
Psychological and Social Effects
Probably the psychological and social effects of obesity are the most painful. When a person suffers from obesity he often looses confidence and feels unattractive. Obese people are often made fun of and discriminated as a result of which they find it really hard to lead a happy life, many start suffering from depression.
Need to Loose Weight
These dangers of obesity make it extremely important to loose weight. But here again there is another problem. People often try to loose weight quickly with the help of fad diets. But it must be remembered that successful and happy weight loss takes time and one needs to be patient. Fad diets might help in loosing weight but they bring about weight loss by depriving the body of some necessary nutrients. This might cause further health complications.
The only healthy way to loose weight is by following a proper weight loss program that includes exercise and a reduced calorie diet. In the beginning you might find it difficult to limit you intake therefore you can try using weight loss pills like Phentermine, Adipex or Xenical. There is nothing wrong with using Phentermine or the other weight loss pills. Phentermine will help in suppressing the appetite as a result you’ll be able to reduce your intake and be satisfied even by eating smaller amounts. Talk to your doctor before you begin your weight loss program. You should not aim too high in the beginning, you need to set attainable goals. Being patient is the key.
