A person with obesity either has an unhealthy amount of body fat or an improper distribution of it. It increases the possibility of various significant health issues. The bones and organs are strained by excess body fat. Additionally, it alters the body's metabolism and hormones in significant ways, increasing inflammation.
The body mass index, or BMI, is a measurement that may be statistically determined by looking at a person's weight and height. It gives a good idea of healthy body weight but does not reveal the body fat percentage. A body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more is considered obese.
Obesity is a risk factor, but it does not guarantee that you will experience the following health issues. However, it does raise your risk of getting one or more of them. Here are 5 obesity-related health risks and how to prevent or manage them.
When your blood sugar is higher than normal, type 2 diabetes develops. Other health concerns like heart disease, nerve damage, stroke, renal disease, and visual problems may develop over time.
If you are obese, decreasing merely 5 to 7 percent of your body weight and engaging in regular, moderate exercise may be able to delay or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.
People who are obese are more likely to get heart disease. The arteries that carry blood to the heart may develop fatty deposits over time. Obese people have blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar levels that are over normal, all of which are risk factors for heart disease.
A heart attack may result from narrow arteries. Strokes can occur as a result of blood clots in these small arteries.
There are psychological and emotional effects of obesity as well. It makes a person lose confidence in themselves and constantly doubt their abilities. The isolation might cause depression and anxiety. Many advocacy organisations are fighting to end prejudice based on body size today.
A person with sleep apnea may briefly stop breathing while they are asleep. People who are obese and overweight are more likely to develop sleep apnea. They typically have more fat accumulated around the neck, which causes the airway to narrow down. Snoring and trouble breathing at night may result from a smaller airway.
The amount of fat in the neck and the risk of sleep apnea can be reduced with weight loss.
Bile is a substance that is stored in the gallbladder and passed to the small intestine during digestion. Your bile helps with fat digestion.
Gallstones are more likely to develop if you are obese. Bile builds up and solidifies in the gallbladder, resulting in gallstones. People who are obese may have bile that contains higher levels of cholesterol or large, inefficient gallbladders, both of which increase the risk of gallstones. Gallstones can cause discomfort and necessitate surgery.
A diet rich in fibre and good fats may aid in the prevention of gallstones. Refined grains, such as white rice, bread, and pasta, should be avoided.
Cancer is a complex disease, therefore the link between fat and cancer is not as clear as it is for conditions like heart disease and stroke. However, obesity can raise your chance of developing some cancers, such as uterine, cervical, endometrial, breast, colon, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, and prostate cancer.
The body's extra fat tissue needs additional nutrition and oxygen. More blood will need to be pumped through your blood arteries to the increased fat tissue. As a result, your heart will have to work harder to pump blood throughout your body.
The walls of your arteries are under more pressure because of the increased blood flow. This increased pressure is called hypertension. Your heart and arteries can become damaged over time by high blood pressure.
Health concerns associated with obesity can be controlled through frequent physical exercises. Although you might not know where to start, managing your health today will help you avoid consequences like type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. You can always consult your doctor for the same.
