10 Things That May Happen If You Don’t Lose The Extra Fat
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Obesity is a disease prevalent in both developing and developed countries. Overweight and obesity are now so common that they are replacing the more traditional public health concerns such as under nutrition and infectious diseases as some of the most significant contributors to ill health.Â
Obesity is an illness that can lead to several medical complications. If you are overweight or obese, you have an increased risk for developing the following conditions (in no particular order):
1. High blood pressure: is one of the commonest complications of obesity. Anytime you gain some weight, you gain mostly fatty tissue. Your blood pressure increases because substances produced by the fatty tissue (also known as adipose tissue) and the hormone insulin causes retention of salt and water leading to an increase in blood volume with a resultant increase in blood pressure. In addition, excess weight gain is associated with an increased heart rate and impaired circulation of blood which may potentially cause a rise in blood pressure.
2. Diabetes: Obesity is the leading cause of type 2 diabetes. If you are obese you may develop diabetes because your body becomes resistant to insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin is responsible for the regulation of blood sugar. If your body is resistant to insulin, your blood sugar may be elevated and this could result in further complications.
3. Raised blood cholesterol levels: Also known as hypercholesterolemia is commonly associated with obesity. Cholesterol levels are determined by both genetics and diet. There are 2 types of cholesterol- “good” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol. Bad cholesterol is the predominant cholesterol seen in obese persons and may contribute to the deposition of fatty substances in the walls of the arteries. Complete blockage of the arteries that supply blood to the brain and heart may result in a stroke and heart attack respectively.
4. Fatty liver disease: Also known as non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH). If you eat high calorie foods and foods containing polyunsaturated fat in excess, fat may be stored in the liver and other vital organs. This fatty accumulation can lead to inflammation and scarring of the liver. Such scarring can ultimately result in cirrhosis of the liver.
5. Degenerative arthritis: Also known as osteoarthritis. If you are overweight or obese, you are prone to this condition because your adipose tissues produce substances that cause damage to the normal cartilage in joints. This disorder commonly affects the knees, hips and the lower back. In addition, excess weight puts some pressure on the cartilages resulting in joint pains and stiffness.
6. Metabolic syndrome: is a constellation of conditions found commonly in obese people. You need to have three or more of these conditions before you are diagnosed with metabolic syndrome:
a. Waist circumference greater than 40 inches in men or 35 inches in women. b.Triglycerides greater than 150 mg/dl. c.HDL cholesterol less than 40 mg/dl in men or less than 50mg/dl in women. d.Blood Pressure greater than 130/85 mm Hg. e.Glucose (fasting) greater than 110 mg/dl.
7. Obstructive sleep apnea: is a serious medical condition that causes a person to stop breathing for short periods during sleep. The upper airway is blocked during sleep resulting in snoring and frequent awakening, usually bat night. it occurs commonly in overweight persons because such individuals have large necks and narrow airways.
8. Cancer: Your risk for having cancer increases if you are obese. Obese women have a threefold increase in the incidence of breast, ovarian, uterine and cervical cancer. Obese men have an increased risk for colon and prostate cancer.
9. Gall bladder disease: If you are obese, you tend to have increased amounts of “bad” cholesterol some of which may be deposited in the gall bladder, a small organ under the liver. This cholesterol form solid masses or stones in the gall bladder resulting in gallstones (cholelithiasis) and inflammation of the gall bladder (cholecystitis).
10. Fertility and pregnancy problems: An increase in body mass may be associated with fertility problems in both men and women. In addition, obesity may result in gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and other problems during pregnancy.
Okukpon Oziegbe Pierre is a general practitioner with a passion for disseminating health related formation.
For information on risk factors, signs and symptoms and treatment of high blood pressure visit www.hypertensionzone.com
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Loading ...Tags: cancer, Fatty Liver Disease, high blood pressure, Metabolic Syndrome, obesity
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There is a good article about “Overweight and Obesity” on our website. I can recommend its reading: http://www.healthocrates.com/Overweight-and-Obesity