| Most of the time, we relate obesity or overweight with our appearance and personality. But the fact is far more serious and requires medical attention. Obesity is a threat to a person’s life. It is not just a cosmetic problem but a major health problem.
There are three stages of obesity, i.e.
Mild Obesity: BMI of 30+
Morbid Obesity: BMI of 40+
Malignant Obesity: BMI of 50+
Mild obesity is obviously less threatening to health compared to morbid and malignant obesity. Someone who has malignant obesity is twice as likely to die prematurely compared to person who is of normal body weight.
If you are overweight or obese, you are more vulnerable to certain diseases which are serious as well as life threatening. Let us understand the major health risks caused due to obesity and overweight;
Stroke & Heart Disease: Overweight and obese people are more likely to suffer from heart disease and stroke due to the following reasons
- Overweight people suffer from High blood pressure;
- High level of cholesterol in blood
- High level triglycerides or blood fats
- Angina or chest pain due to less oxygen in heart
Diabetes: Diabetes Type 2 or noninsulin-dependant diabetes is the most common type of diabetes in overweight and obese people. This type of diabetes reduces the blood sugar control in body and that is the major cause behind heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, early death and blindness.
Cancer: There are number of cancers in men and women that are closely related to overweight and obesity.
Cancer in men caused by obesity or overweight are;
- Cancer of the Colon
- Cancer of the Rectum
- Cancer of the Prostrate
Cancer in women caused by overweight and obesity are;\
- Cancer of the uterus
- Cancer of the gallbladder
- Cancer of the cervix
- Cancer of the ovary
- Cancer of the breast
- Cancer of the colon
Osteoarthritis: It is a joint disorder that affects mainly the body joints, knees, hips, and lowers back. An obese or overweight person puts extra on these joints and damages the cartilage or tissue that cushions the joints that normally protects joints.
Gout: Gout is very common in overweight people because the risk of this disease increases with the body weight. Gout is actually a joint disease caused by high level of uric acid in blood. When uric acid is high in blood, it turns into small particles of solid stone or crystal masses and deposit itself in the joint causing tremendous pain.
Gallbladder Disease: The chances of gallbladder disease increase in obese and overweight people because of the changes in fat and cholesterol leading to over saturation of bile.
Sleep Apnoea: This is a disease, again closely related with being overweight or obese. In this disease, during the sleep, apnoea causes breathlessness of short periods and makes a person snore heavily. This may further lead to day time sleepiness and even heart failure.
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