The Dangers Of Obesity

While obesity itself does not technically kill people, somewhere between 100,000 to 400,000 Americans die from the diseases that come with it each year. Even at the lower estimates, it is still a massive death toll; much higher than other causes of death which get a lot more press attention.

So, who exactly is classed as being obese? A formula called the body mass index (or simply BMI) is used to work out who is obese. While those with BMIs of between 25 and 29 are classified as being overweight, those at 30 to 40 are regarded as being obese. Regardless of exactly where you come on this scale, it is important to know the dangers of carrying around too much weight.

Remember that the heart must work 24/7 to pump blood to supply and move this extra weight, and it puts a big strain on it to do so. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US, and those with a BMI of above 25 have at least twice the risk of dying from it.

As over 80% of people who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes are also overweight, there is also a definite link between obesity and diabetes. Furthermore, cancer has long been a killer many feared, and it appears that being overweight increases the risk of some types of cancers, including colon, kidney and esophagus.

Those are just some of the fatal diseases to have been directly linked to being obese. Diseases that tend not to be life threatening, but affect quality of life, such as Osteoarthritis, are also a much greater risk for those who are overweight.

Those who are obese need to take action if they are serious about living a long life. While there is a ton of information available on the Internet, it is always a good idea to check with a physician and use some common sense.

Awareness of the dangers of obesity should be motivation enough for people to lose weight. Those at risk should check their BMI and take action today.

1. Prev:Knowing About Obesity in Babies
2. Next:Obesity - The Dangers You Should Be Aware Of