Obesity and its Associated Health Risks

Being overweight or obese has become quite common nowadays. No surprise in that as people do not refrain from eating all kinds of junk foods. Even the percentage of obese kids have increased due to the same reasons of course.

What is Obesity:

Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) as follows.

BMI= (weight in kg)/(height in m)2

If your BMI is below 25, your weight is normal. If it is from 25-30, you come under the category of overweight. If it is 30 or higher, you are declared to be obese. To check your BMI, you can use a BMI calculator app.

Obesity leads to accumulation of fat in the body. Your body type is also an important factor in determining health risk. If you are apple shaped (fat around the stomach) then you are at higher risk of health hazard. If you are pear shaped (weight around hips and buttocks) the health risk associated with this type of body is less.

As obesity is not an ideal body condition, there are certainly health risks associated with it. We have listed a few health risks that are associated with being obese.

Heart Diseases:

Obese people tend to have a higher level of cholesterols, high blood pressure and high level of blood glucose which is directly associated with your heart health. Lowering a small amount of weight by bringing healthy changes in your lifestyle would lower the risk of heart diseases.

Brain Stroke:

Obesity also causes an increase in the blood pressure. A high blood pressure condition can make a stroke more likely. Also, high cholesterol and heart diseases can cause more risk. Control your weight if you do not want to take such a big risk.

Type 2 Diabetes

Now, this condition is something which is mostly genetic and inherited within families. The condition can be further accelerated if you are overweight or obese. Get adequate sleep, exercise more and eat a balanced diet. If you have developed a Type 2 diabetes, you can control your blood sugar levels by losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle. Your medicine might be reduced because of a few changes in your daily routine.

High Blood Pressure:

Obesity is a major reason for high blood pressure as a larger body needs more blood to be pumped to supply blood to all cells.

Cancer

Obesity can also trigger many types of cancer such as breast, colon, kidney, uterus, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, ovaries, etc. Though there might be other factors involved for cancer and Doctors have not yet reached a complete conclusion still eliminating one trigger can make a lot of difference.

Fibroid:

Obesity can also lead to the formation of non-cancerous tumors in female known as fibroids. Though it is not fatal like cancer but still it is a serious condition. Fibroid Experts at VivaEve suggests that maintaining an overall fitness may reduce the chances of developing such conditions.

Gallbladder Disease

Gallstones or gallbladder diseases are also associated with being overweight. Losing weight can decrease the chances of it but rapid weight loss can cause more harm. A slow paced consistent weight loss will less likely cause gallstones.

Osteoarthritis

Obesity means extra weight that is put on the joints which causes wear and tear of joints and cartilage. Reduction of weight can reduce a considerable amount of weight in the joints lowering such risks.

Being obese and overweight is not a disease in itself but can lead to many other diseases. Reducing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not as difficult as dragging that extra load of weight along with you. It’s just a matter of habitand determination to lead a healthy life.