Major Health Problems Caused By Obesity

Fast food and a sedentary lifestyle have been factors in the rise of obesity in our society today. It is now common for people to be overweight even kids.

Obesity is a medical condition where a person has too much body fat that it may cause health problems. It is not the same as being overweight, extra weight may be caused by extra muscle and water. This condition is measured by having a body mass index of 30 or higher.

The cause is eating more calories than your body can use up. These unused calories are stored in the body as fat. Eating too much unhealthy food contributes a lot to this problem. Same as drinking too much alcohol and not getting enough physical activity.

Today’s lifestyle where we spend most of our time watching TV and using our gadgets for an extended period of time has led to overweight kids. There are also more people who have desk jobs and are stuck 8 to 12 hours a day sitting around in the office. After that they watch some interesting content again, like Rancho’s videos, sitting again.

Medical conditions like hypothyroidism can also cause weight gain. Certain medicines like birth control pills and antidepressants may also contribute to being obese.
The result is health problems caused by obesity.

Those who quit smoking are also prone to gain 4 to 10 pounds once they quit, if this is not controlled they can balloon to obese status in no time. Women who are in their menopausal stage also have a tendency to gain 12 to 15 pounds. Some women don’t lose the weight they gained during pregnancy.

We share some health conditions that are common to being obese.

Heart Disease And Stroke
Stroke and heart disease are two of the leading causes of death for those living in the U.S. Carrying a lot of extra weight make a person more prone to general heart disease and stroke. Having high cholesterol levels can lead to heart disease. Chest pain or angina is also common for overweight people, this is due to having less oxygen going to the heart.

The good news is research has shown that losing weight can greatly reduce the risk of stroke and heart disease.

Type 2 Diabetes
Having a condition like type 2 diabetes lowers your body’s ability to control blood sugar levels. This condition is known for being a major cause of premature death, heart disease, stroke, and blindness.

Obese people have two times the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. Losing the excess weight can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Cancer
There are some types of cancer that are linked to being obese. For women, these are cancer of the cervix, uterus, gallbladder, breast, ovary, and colon. Obese men are more prone to develop prostate and colorectal cancer. The increased risk is tied up with excess fat, extra weight, and a high-calorie diet.

Gallbladder Disease
Gallstones and gallbladder disease are more likely to happen for people who are obese. As your weight increases, the greater the risk for you to develop these conditions. For those who are planning to lose weight, rapid weight loss also increases the risk of developing gallstones. Plan for a long-term and modest weight loss of around a pound a week to lessen the risk.

Osteoarthritis
This is a joint condition that usually affects the knee, hip, and lower back joints. The added weight causes extra pressure on these joints which lead to the wear and tear of the cartilage protecting the joint.

Weight loss is the solution to lessen the stress on these joints and preserve the cartilage tissue that serves as a cushion