Obesity is a chronic condition that occurs when your Body Mass Index (BMI) is 30 or higher. It has many negative effects on your health and may cause various health issues, here are 5 of them: (1)
1. Heart Disease and Stroke
High blood pressure and high cholesterol are among the most common causes of heart disease and stroke, and unfortunately, both of these risk factors are associated with obesity. (1)
However, reducing your BMI by losing weight can help tremendously in reducing your risk of developing obesity-related diseases. (1)
2. Osteoarthritis
Many factors may cause osteoarthritis including obesity. Obesity normally increases joints-stress by placing much weight on these joints, promoting inflammation that causes: (2)
- Swelling
- Pain
- Heat within your body
3. Type 2 diabetes
Studies have shown that almost 9 in 10 people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes have obesity problems. Type 2 diabetes occurs when your blood sugar is too high. Consistent high blood sugar may lead to many other health issues, including: (3)
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Stroke
- Nerve damage
- Eye problems
People with a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes should lose at least 5% to 7% of their weight to prevent or delay diabetes. (3)
4. Sleep apnea
People who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk of developing sleep apnea, a condition in which you can’t or stop breathing during sleep. (4)
The reason behind this issue is that obese people have more fat stored around their neck and chest area. This makes the airway shrink and leads to snoring and breathing difficulties during the night. (4)
5. Gallbladder disease
Obesity increases people’s risk of getting gallbladder disease. Your gallbladder stores a substance that is called bile and transfers this substance into the small intestine to help you digest fat. (4)
Gallstones occur when bile builds up and hardens in your gallbladder. Obesity can affect the gallbladder, making it work poorly. (4)
It can also hurt your bile, making it full of high cholesterol levels. These factors eventually lead to gallstones that are very painful and require surgery to get rid of. (4)
You can avoid gallbladder disease by eating a diet that is high in fiber and avoiding refined grains, such as rice, pasta, and bread. (4)
References:
(1) 10 Health Conditions & Diseases Linked To Obesity (webmd.com)
(2) Obesity – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
(3) Health Risks of Overweight & Obesity – NIDDK (nih.gov)
(4) 10 Health Risks of Obesity and How to Prevent Them (healthline.com)
