The Most Common Health Effects Of Obesity

When the weather gets warm, people start thinking about losing the weight they've gained over the winter months. But for many folks, losing weight isn't a seasonal goal: it's a lifetime struggle. If left unchecked, obesity may result: here are some of the health effects of this dangerous condition.

-- Type 2 Diabetes: This most common form of diabetes cannot be relieved through the use of insulin. These kinds of diabetics produce enough insulin, but because of the overweight, glucose builds up in the body's blood supply instead of getting into the body's cells where it belongs. As a result, cells can't function properly; in addition, high levels of glucose in the blood can eventually lead to eye, kidney, and heart damage.

Those who suffer from Type 2 diabetes are also more predisposed to hardening of the arteries which may lead to heart attack or stroke. It is a killer disease. The good news is that type 2 diabetes virtually disappears in those who lose the weight.

-- Chronic heart disease and stroke: Obese people are twice as likely to have high blood pressure and therefore are at greatly increased risk of stroke. As mentioned previously, heart disease is a very real risk and rises with every 10 extra pounds of weight. The heart simply cannot pump hard enough to sustain the demands of supplying blood to all parts of a large body, and may eventually rebel in the form of a heart attack. The really scary part is that the heart attack may hit with no obvious warning signs. It's like a ticking time bomb.

-- Although it has been determined that overweight and obese persons are more likely to suffer from certain types of cancer, including colon and breast, the exact correlation between excess weight and developing cancers has not been determined.

It may be due to high-calorie, high-fat diets or it may be because of carrying around all that extra weight. Whatever the direct causes, it is agreed that keeping a body at a normal weight decreases the chances of developing these diseases. Other cancers related to obesity include uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, and prostate.

-- Arthritis: If viewed logically, it makes sense that overweight and obese people would be more likely to suffer from problems with their joints. Carrying extra pounds puts undue pressure and stress on the knees, hips, and lower back. Over time, the cartilage that protects these joints wears away, causing the advent of arthritis. Losing weight will immediately arrest the degeneration of these protective tissues.

If you have struggled with keeping within a normal weight range, are obese, and diet and exercise just don't seem to work, you may want to consider looking into the different types of bariatric surgeries that are available today. For your health's sake, it's wise to not wait until the common risks associated with obesity rear their heads.

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