10 Health Risks of Being Overweight or Obese

Overweight and obesity are two words that are in news more and more frequently in the last decade. It has become an epidemic in the world. When you eat more calories on daily basis than you burn through exercise and physical activities, the extra calories add up over time and lead to obesity. Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more. BMI is calculated taking a person’s weight and height into account. Some of the reasons for obesity are an unhealthy diet, lack of sleep, inactive lifestyle, genetics, age, pregnancy and hormonal changes in the body. At times, people gain weight due to medical conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and hypothyroidism. Obesity is a serious issue that can have a negative effect on many systems in your body and increase your risk of several health problems. Here are the top 10 health risks of being overweight or obese. Type 2 Diabetes diabetes 3 Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body is either not capable of producing sufficient insulin to regulate blood glucose levels or the insulin produced is unable to work effectively. Obesity increases a person’s risk of Type 2 diabetes. A 2011 study published in Diabetes Care approves the relationship between obesity and Type 2 diabetes and emphasizes preventing obesity in order to benefit the incidence and care of Type 2 diabetes. A 2014 report by Public Health England states that being overweight or obese is the main modifiable risk factor for Type 2 diabetes. According to the report, 90 percent of adults with Type 2 diabetes in England were overweight or obese in 2014. A 2015 study published by Nature Medicine reports that obesity causes inflammation, which in turn leads to Type 2 diabetes. The inflammatory molecule LTB4 promotes insulin resistance. While obesity increases the risk of diabetes, this metabolic condition is the leading cause of early death, coronary heart disease, strokes, kidney disease and blindness. To cut your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, try to lose weight, eat a balanced diet, get adequate sleep and exercise more. About 1 in 3 adults suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension, according to the CDC. Every time the heart beats, it pumps blood through the arteries to the rest of your body. A blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg is considered normal. If the top figure is consistently 140 or higher and the bottom figure is 90 or higher, then you suffer from high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, and it has been found to increase with weight gain and age. A 2009 study published in the Ochsner Journal highlights the connection between obesity and hypertension. The study emphasizes that weight loss, though difficult, must be the first line of therapy for treating hypertension. Later, a 2012 study of 885 apparently healthy adolescents in Nigeria published in BMC Public Health found that the prevalence of hypertensive-range blood pressure among obese Nigerian adolescents was high. The study recommended screening for childhood obesity and hypertension. While obesity is associated with hypertension, one can also suffer from hypertension due to several other reasons, such as genetics, excessive drinking, high salt intake, lack of exercise, stress, and use of birth control pills. Whatever the reason is behind high blood pressure, try to lose weight, follow the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, avoid high dietary sodium, drink in moderation and make exercise a part of your daily routine.