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Risk of Obesity
Overweight individuals are also at risk for developing health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain types of cancer, gout (joint pain caused by excess uric acid) and gallbladder disease. Being overweight can also cause problems such as sleep apnea (interrupted breathing during sleep) and osteoarthritis (wearing away of the joints). Weight-loss can help improve the harmful effects of being overweight. However, many overweight people have difficulty reaching their healthy body weight. |
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What are the health risks associated with obesity?
There are more than 30 medical conditions that are associated with obesity. Individuals who are obese are at risk of developing one or more of these serious medical conditions, causing poor health or, in severe cases, early death. In fact, more than 112,000 annual deaths are attributable to obesity. The most prevalent obesity related diseases include:
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Gallbladder disease
- Gastro esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Osteoarthritis
- Sleep apnea and respiratory problems like asthma
- Cancers (endometrial, colon, kidney, gallbladder)
- Premature death
- Postmenopausal breast cancer
- Complications of pregnancy
- Menstrual irregularities
- Hirsutism
- Stress incontinence meaning urine leakage caused by weak pelvic-floor muscles; increased surgical risk
- Psychological disorders such as depression
- Psychological difficulties due to social stigmatization.
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The experts say that anyone overweight by 20% of their healthy body weight should lose some weight. If they don't then there are some risk factors to consider: |
- Heart disease and stroke. Both of these can be deadly and lead to heart attack or a stroke that can leave a person in a vegetative state.
- High blood pressure, which can lead to stroke and other health problems.
- Diabetes, which can lead to other health issues. Some people have lost legs, feet, and other extremities because of diabetes.
- Different forms of cancer can come about. There is not one known form of cancer that is specific to obese individuals because an obese individual becomes more susceptible to any form of cancer.
- Gallbladder disease, gall stones, and kidney stones. These are painful conditions that can lead to other problems.
- Gout, which is a painful condition that no one really wants.
- Osteoarthritis can restrict a person's movement even more than they are already restricted being obese. It is also very painful and debilitating.
- Breathing issues such as sleep apnea. A person with sleep apnea stops breathing for short periods in their sleep. Some have been found to stop breathing completely.
- Blood clots are common in those who are obese. These blood clots form in the legs. They can eventually move to other places of the body such as the lungs, which results in a pulmonary embolism.
- It is even said that obesity increases the risk that someone will develop Alzheimer's, which is a condition that no one wants to ever have to deal with.
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