Risks of Overweight and Obesity

Obesity isn’t just a cosmetic problem; it is very much medical problem as well. You may be reading this today because you are or have been very unhappy about physical appearance. However, you should understand that losing weight isn’t just looking good, it is about feeling good, it is about being healthy and living a productive and comfortable life. Above all, it is about avoiding the terrible medical consequences of carrying around excessive weight. The growing evidence shows that if you are overweight you are more likely to develop health problems like heat disease, diabetes, stroke, certain type of cancer, gout or joint pain caused by excess uric acid, and gallbladder disease. Being overweight can also cause problem like sleep apnoea and osteoarthritis and more overweight you are the more likely you are to have these health problems. In comparison, healthy and steady weight loss can help improve the harmful effects of being overweight.

Risk of heart disease and stroke – this is one of leading causes of death and disability for both men and women. Overweight people are more likely to have high blood, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, than people who are not overweight.

Diabetes – type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes in the world. Type 2 diabetes reduces your body ability to control your blood sugar. It is a major cause of early death, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and blindness. Statistically overweight people are twice likely to develop type 2 diabetes as people who are not overweight.

Cancer – several type of cancer associated with being overweight. In women these include cancer of uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast and colon. Overweight men are greater risk of developing cancer on the colon, rectum and prostate. For some type of cancer like colon and breast it is not clear whether the increased risk is due to extra weight or to high fat and high calorie diet, of course being strongly associated with weight problems as a consequence.

Osteoarthritis – is a common joint disorder that most often affects the joints in your knees, hips, and lower back, extra weight appears to increase the risk of osteoarthritis by placing extra pressure on these joints and wearing away the cartilage that normally protects them. Weight loss can decrease stress on the knees, hips and lower back and may improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Gout – is a joint disease caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid sometimes forms into solid stone or crystal masses that become deposited in the joints. Gout is more common in overweight people and the risk of developing the disorder increases in parallel with higher body weight.

Gallbladder disease – or gallstones are more common if you are overweight and again your risk of the disease increases as your weight increases. It is not clear how being overweight may cause gallbladder disease but the association may be a consequence of changes in fat and cholesterol handling by the body leading to super saturation of bile.