Top 10 Health Dangers Associated with Obesity

Being very overweight or obese is not only detrimental to your health, but it can shorten your life. All things considered, overweight people live shorter lives than people of average weight. If you are 20 percent or more over your recommended weight, your risk of developing five out of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States increases. If you are obese, try considering a medical weight loss program to help you lose weight.

Here are ten reasons to get you motivated to lose weight:

1. Heart Disease – Carrying around excess weight increases your risk of developing heart disease. What’s more, the manner in which your fat is distributed, or how you carry your weight, also affects your risk. If you tend to have stomach fat you’re at a greater risk of heart disease than people who carry their weight around their hips and thighs.
2. Hypertension – High blood pressure tends to increase with weight, and is a significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
3. High Cholesterol – Being obese can elevate your cholesterol to unhealthy levels. Excess cholesterol can cause plaque buildup, clog arteries, and lead to heart disease.
4. Diabetes – Being overweight contributes to developing diabetes because it makes the body more sensitive to insulin. The good news is that many people in New Jersey and nationwide are able to control their diabetes through exercise and healthy eating habits.
5. Stroke – Most strokes occur due to a narrowing in arteries that supply blood to the brain. Both fat buildup and high blood pressure contribute to artery narrowing, and is made worse with obesity. It’s important to lose stomach fat because fat distribution around the abdominal and waist area increases the risk of stroke.
6. Gallstones – When you’re obese, you liver may secrete excessive amounts of bile. The excess production of bile can cause gallstones to form. At times, gallstones can block bile from exiting the intestinal tract, and cause severe pain.
7. Joint Conditions – Excess weight puts unnecessary pressure on your joints. Over time, this excess pressure causes inflammation and a condition called osteoarthritis, which is painful and decreases mobility.
8. Back Pain – Excess weight can put added pressure on your back, resulting in back pain.
9. Infertility – Some obese women experience hormone changes that result in the failure of her ovaries to produce eggs regularly. Other hormonal irregularities can cause excessive hair growth or acne.
10. Cancer – Recent research suggests that obesity can lead to an increased risk of cancer including endometrial, esophageal, pancreatic, kidney, gallbladder cancer, colorectal and breast cancer.