Obesity
Obesity
Obesity affects nearly 2/3 of the the total adult population in the United States according to the statistic data of the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey or the NHANES. This means that an astonishing figure of about 30.5% of Americans are obese. This over weight and obesity prevalence fact sheet provided by the study as well presents the accompanying obesity related health problems in the population, apart from the disease’s mortality and economic costs. And a significantly stunning 61+ million people are at risk of the deadly disorders associated with obesity.
Only some of the known and proven obesity related health problems are the following:
* type 2 diabetes
* insulin resistance, glucose intolerance
* heart disease and congestive heart failure
* stroke, respiratory breathing problems and sleep apnea
* high blood pressure (hypertension)
* high blood cholesterol (dyslipidemia)
* cholescystitis and cholelithiasis
* gallbladder disease and urine leakage (stress incontinence)
* presence of excess body and facial hair (hirsutism)
* poor female reproductive health (menstrual irregularities, infertility, irregular ovulation)
* pregnancy complications
* degeneration of cartilage and bone of joints (osteoarthritis)
* psychological disorders (depression, low self- esteem, distorted body image and eating disorders)
* some forms of cancer (breast, uterine, endometrial, prostate, colorectal, kidney, and gallbladder), and
* increased surgical risk
To note, there are also gender- specific obesity related health problems among obese women and men.
Obese women who have a waist circumference of more than 35 inches is considered to have a high amount of visceral fats or accumulated fats surrounding the internal organs which are associated with higher risks of liver disease and chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. On the other hand, among obese males, are more likely deaths caused by colon, rectum, or prostate cancer as well as acquiring a suffering disorder of sleep apnea which is seriously associated with stroke and heart attack.
Being obese causes an increased risk for developing these numbers of serious and potentially lethal health problems. What makes these obesity related health problems even more noteworthy is the fact that it causes some 300,000 premature deaths in the United States every single year. Causing government spending of billions of dollars in health care costs, and the culprit is preventable.
And with these risky obesity related health problems always in mind, no one would rather eat what he wants rather than wanting to live a long healthy life with his loved ones.
Milos
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/obesity-related-health-problems-74288.html
Obesity
Originally posted 2011-05-09 11:00:15.
What are some additional health problems related to obesity?
Death
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Thyroid disease, depression, diabetes, hormone embalance,cushings disease.
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Breathing problems. When a lot of fat deposits underneath the diaphram, there is difficulty breathing which reduces the oxygen supply to the body. This can lead to long term problems.
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increased risk of heart disease, increased risk of developing diabetes, joint or muscle pain, fatigue…just to name a few
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heart disease, diabetes, depression, among others
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heart diease
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Excessive body weight has been shown to correlate with various important diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease, Diabetes mellitus type 2, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis. It is also considered a risk factor for certain cancers.
and more at:
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity#Complications
diabetes
slovenliness
circulation issues (blood)
heart disease
stroke
fluid retention
foot problems
clothing wear & tear
mobility
general overall comfort level
sweating more often
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known people with these issues….
High blood pressure. As you put on weight, you gain mostly fatty tissue. Just like other parts of the body, this tissue relies on oxygen and nutrients in your blood to survive. As demand for oxygen and nutrients increases, the amount of blood circulating through your body also increases. More blood traveling through your arteries means added pressure on your artery walls. Weight gain also typically increases the level of insulin, a blood-sugar-controlling hormone, in your blood. The increase in insulin is associated with retention of sodium and water, which increases blood volume. In addition, excess weight often is associated with an increase in your heart rate and a reduction in the capacity of your blood vessels to transport blood. All of these factors can increase blood pressure.
Diabetes. Obesity is a leading cause of type 2 diabetes. Excess fat makes your body resistant to insulin, the hormone that helps your body maintain a proper level of a sugar (glucose) in your blood. If your body is resistant to insulin, your blood sugar is high — which isn’t good — and leads to negative health effects.
Abnormal blood fats. A diet high in saturated fats — red meat and fried foods, for example — can lead to obesity as well as elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein ("bad") cholesterol. Obesity is also associated with low levels of high-density lipoprotein ("good") cholesterol and high levels of triglycerides. Triglycerides are the form in which most fat exists in food as well as in your body. Over time, abnormal blood fats can contribute to atherosclerosis — the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries throughout your body. Atherosclerosis puts you at risk of coronary artery disease and stroke.
Coronary artery disease. This is a form of cardiovascular disease. It results from the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries that supply your heart. Over time these deposits can narrow your heart’s arteries, so less blood flows to your heart. Diminished blood flow to your heart can cause chest pain (angina). Complete blockage can lead to a heart attack.
Stroke. Obesity is associated with atherosclerosis — the buildup of fatty deposits in arteries throughout your body, including arteries in your brain. If a blood clot forms in a narrowed artery in your brain, it can block blood flow to an area of your brain. The result is a stroke. Being obese raises your risk of a stroke.
Osteoarthritis. This joint disorder most often affects the knees, hips and lower back. Excess weight puts extra pressure on these joints and wears away the cartilage that protects them, resulting in joint pain and stiffness.
Sleep apnea. This serious condition causes a person to stop breathing for short periods during sleep and to snore heavily. The upper airway is blocked during sleep, which results in frequent awakening at night and subsequent drowsiness during the day. Most people with sleep apnea are overweight, which contributes to a large neck and narrowed airways.
Cancer. Many types of cancer are associated with being overweight. In women, these include cancers of the breast, uterus, cervix, ovaries and gallbladder. Overweight men have a particularly higher risk of cancers of the colon, rectum and the prostate.
Fatty liver disease. When you’re obese, fats can build up in your liver. This fatty accumulation can lead to inflammation and scarring of the liver. Such scarring can cause cirrhosis of the liver, even if you’re not a heavy alcohol drinker.
Gallbladder disease. Because overweight people may produce more cholesterol, which can be deposited in the gallbladder, the risk of gallstones is higher in obese people. Fast weight loss — more than 3 pounds a week — also can increase the risk of gallstones.
Obesity can also contribute to gout, a joint disorder.
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Type 1 diabetes
High blood cholesterol
Coronary artery disease
Chest pain
Heart attack
Stroke
Arteriosclerosis / Atherosclerosis
Osteoarthritis
Sleep apnea
Breast cancer
Endometrial cancer
Cervical cancer
Ovarian cancer
Gallbladder cancer
Colon cancer
Prostate cancer
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Gallstones
Gout
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