Obesity - The Dangers You Should Be Aware Of

While almost everyone knows that being obese is not healthy, many people who are obese are not fully aware of how dangerous the consequences really are, and they are more dangerous than they think. It is worth taking some time to learn about this issue, because it will likely affect either yourself or at least one of your friends or family members.

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 huge death toll; much greater than other causes of death which get a lot more press attention.

So, how do you know if you are obese? A formula called the body mass index (or simply BMI) is used to work out who is obese. While those with BMIs of 25 to 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 are twice as likely as anyone to die from it.

As over 80% of people suffering 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, such as that of the kidneys and colon.

Those are just a few of the fatal diseases that have been linked to being obese. Diseases which 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. Remember that you do not have to wait until a problem has developed until you contact your doctor; they will be more than happy to advise you on how to change your conduct now so as to prevent problems arising in the future.

The majority of the information you can find on the Internet is of great value, but there is a lot put out for the sole purpose of selling weight loss products. If something sounds too good to be true, then it is probably best to avoid it. Unfortunately, there are no quick, easy fixes.

By first being aware of the dangers of obesity, people can hopefully be motivated to lose weight. If you are concerned about your own weight, then you should check your BMI today, and start taking immediate action if necessary.

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