Are you obese? You may develop 7 health problems

Gained 5 kgs in last one month? Lose it fast if you don’t want to become yet another obesity statistic! If you’re already there, you could be at the risk of developing diseases like cancer and heart problems.

Many of you think of gaining excess weight as a ‘cosmetic’ issue. You may not like the way you look and feel embarrassed about your appearance because we live in a society that values thinness and fitness. What you may not realize is that your weight problem is not just an appearance issue; it’s also a health issue. Overweight and obesity are linked to increased risks of serious health problems. You would be surprised to know that there are nearly 108 million children and more than 600 million adults with a BMI exceeding 30, the threshold for obesity, and an increased risk of severe health hazards.

If you are obese, you may have chances of developing the following health problems:

1. Heart: Your chances of having high blood pressure are greater if you are overweight or obese. Being overweight increases your risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). It causes a condition in which a substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. Plaque can narrow or block the coronary arteries and reduce blood flow to the heart. This causes chest pain and heart attack. Obesity can also lead to stroke and heart failure as blood clots, which result from plaque formation within the arteries, can block the flow of blood and oxygen to your brain.
2. Cancer: Being overweight or obese raises your risk of colon, breast, endometrial and gall bladder cancer.
3. Type-2 diabetes: In type-2 diabetes, the body’s cells do not use insulin appropriately. Initially, the body reacts by making more insulin. However, over time the body cannot make enough insulin to control its blood sugar level. This leads to diabetes and other related health issues. It has been observed that most people who have type-2-diabetes are overweight.
4. High blood pressure (Hypertension): When you think about risk factors for hypertension, the first thing you may often mention is eating too much salt. And in fact, it is true that for some people, too much salt (sodium) in the diet can increase blood pressure. However, there are other risk factors as well, and obesity is among the most important. It has been estimated that approximately 65 to 75% of the risk for hypertension can be directly attributed to excess weight.
5. Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint problem of the knees, hips, and lower back. The condition occurs if the tissue that protects the joints wears away. Excess weight can put more pressure and wear on joints, causing OA pain.
6. Sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep. A person who has sleep apnea may have more fat stored around the neck. This can narrow the airway, making it hard to breathe.
7. Gallstones: Gallstones are hard pieces of stone-like material that form in the gall bladder. They are mostly made of cholesterol. Gallstones can cause stomach or back pain. People who are overweight or obese are at increased risk for gallstones. Also, being overweight may result in an enlarged and poorly functioning gall bladder.