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.
