7 Health Risks That are Caused by Obesity

Obesity is when a person has a harmful amount of body fat in their body. Because of this, it raises the risk of multiple serious health complications down the line. Two of them would be that the body fat can cause strain in their bones and organs, and the fat themselves will cause complex changes in their hormones and metabolism. For a person to be categorized as obese, they should have a body mass index or BMI of 30 or higher.

There are tons of BMI calculators online, and you only need to input the correct numbers to get your accurate BMI. Let it be known, however, that having a risk doesn’t necessarily mean that they will have that particular condition in the future. It merely means that the person has a chance of contracting them.

With all that said, here are 7 health risks that obesity can give you.

Depression

Many people who are obese often experience depression because of the negative body image they have. Not only that, but they also face discrimination and bullying from other people due to their body weight.

If you’re one of them, there are a lot of health and social groups you can go to if you experience depression. However, the most effective way to avoid being depressed and obese is changing your lifestyle for the better, keeping a close eye on your weight through accurate weight scales from Wedderburn, and changing to a healthier diet.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes in the world today. But what is it exactly? Type 2 diabetes occurs when your blood sugar is higher than normal. This alone can expose you to multiple health risks like stroke, nerve damage, heart disease, vision problems, and kidney disease.

However, if you lose 5 to 7 percent of your body weight through regular exercise and a strictly balanced diet, you can prevent type 2 diabetes or delay the onset of its symptoms.

Heart Disease

When people think of obesity, the first thing that usually comes into their mind would be heart disease, and they would be mostly right. Heart disease is more prevalent among obese people because, over time, the fatty deposits they have in their blood will start to accumulate in their arteries, increasing their chances of getting high blood pressure, heart disease, and even stroke.

Stroke

Stroke and heart disease usually have the same risk factors, and both of them are very prevalent among obese people. As mentioned earlier, heart disease and stroke happen when the arteries are blocked by fatty deposits that come from the blood.

A stroke happens when not enough blood goes to the brain, and if not treated immediately, this can cause death. However, if the person is lucky enough to be alive, they would most likely suffer from disabilities like speech impairment, weakened muscles, etc. Experts also suggest that more or less 60% of obese people have an increased risk of stroke.

Joint Problems

Because of the increased weight that obese people have, one of the body parts that are directly affected is their joints. Being overweight can cause joint problems in two ways.

First, the excess weight will stress the weight-bearing joints, like the knees, causing increased wear and tear. Secondly, the inflammatory factors that obesity brings can also trigger problems in the joints, like osteoarthritis. To avoid this, losing weight would be the most effective way.

Sleep Apnea

Do you often get startled awake because you suddenly can’t breathe? That’s called sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common but serious sleep disorder usually characterized by repetitive sleep interruption of about 10 seconds or more. This is caused by the reduction of oxygen in the blood, and when your brain doesn’t get enough oxygen, it will force you to awaken.

Of course, the most common cause of sleep apnea is obesity. Being overweight leads to issues in the soft tissue in your mouth and throat. When the patient sleeps, the muscles in your tongue are more relaxed, leading to the soft tissue blocking the airways, which can wake you up. The chances of having sleep apnea are increased when the person has a lot of fat in their neck.

Certain Cancers

Yes, multiple ones because obesity, albeit not directly the cause of cancer, can still increase your chances of getting certain cancers like kidney, prostate, colon, breast, gallbladder, and pancreatic cancer. It could also increase your risk of having cancer of the cervix, uterus, ovaries, and endometrium. Nowadays, the rate of cancer among people is increasing because more and more people are getting obese due to unhealthy diets and lifestyles.

Final Words

Obesity can impact both your physical and mental health. You may be unsure about where to begin your journey to weight loss, but as long as you take the first step and persevere, you’ll be able to avoid the risk of developing the diseases mentioned above. It’s going to be hard, but it’s worth every effort. Good luck!

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