1. High Cholesterol
People who are overweight or obese are more likely to have high cholesterol, a condition in which the levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol) and triglycerides are too high and the level of high-density lipoproteins (HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol) is too low.
Abnormal levels of these blood fats are a risk factor for coronary heart disease.
A 2004 study published in the International Journal of Obesity analyzed the relationship between total cholesterol, age and BMI among males and females in the WHO MONICA Project.
Researchers concluded that public health measures should be directed at the prevention of obesity in young adults since it increases the risk of excess cholesterol in the bloodstream.
Apart from obesity, smoking, excessive drinking, increased age, genetics, diabetes, high blood pressure, and kidney or liver disease also play a major role in high cholesterol.
To fight obesity and high cholesterol, try to lose weight. A 2007 study published in Obesity (Silver Spring) reports that sustained weight loss is an effective method to reverse the decrease in HDL levels in obese people.
More specifically, weight loss achieved through exercise is highly effective at raising HDL levels compared to dieting.
2. Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which the body is either not capable of producing sufficient insulin to regulate blood glucose levels or the insulin produced is unable to work effectively.
Obesity increases a person’s risk of Type 2 diabetes. A 2011 study published in Diabetes Care approves the relationship between obesity and Type 2 diabetes and emphasizes preventing obesity in order to benefit the incidence and care of Type 2 diabetes.
A 2014 report by Public Health England states that being overweight or obese is the main modifiable risk factor for Type 2 diabetes.
According to the report, 90 percent of adults with Type 2 diabetes in England were overweight or obese in 2014.
A 2015 study published by Nature Medicine reports that obesity causes inflammation, which in turn leads to Type 2 diabetes. The inflammatory molecule LTB4 promotes insulin resistance.
While obesity increases the risk of diabetes, this metabolic condition is the leading cause of early death, coronary heart disease, strokes, kidney disease and blindness.
To cut your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, try to lose weight, eat a balanced diet, get adequate sleep and exercise more.
3. High Blood Pressure
About 1 in 3 U.S. adults, or about 70 million people, suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension, according to the CDC.
Every time the heart beats, it pumps blood through the arteries to the rest of your body. A blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg is considered normal.
If the top figure is consistently 140 or higher and the bottom figure is 90 or higher, then you suffer from high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, and it has been found to increase with weight gain and age.
A 2009 study published in the Ochsner Journal highlights the connection between obesity and hypertension. The study emphasizes that weight loss, though difficult, must be the first line of therapy for treating hypertension.
Later, a 2012 study of 885 apparently healthy adolescents in Nigeria published in BMC Public Health found that the prevalence of hypertensive-range blood pressure among obese Nigerian adolescents was high. The study recommended screening for childhood obesity and hypertension.
While obesity is associated with hypertension, one can also suffer from hypertension due to several other reasons, such as genetics, excessive drinking, high salt intake, lack of exercise, stress, and use of birth control pills.
Whatever the reason is behind high blood pressure, try to lose weight, follow the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, avoid high dietary sodium, drink in moderation and make exercise a part of your daily routine.
4. Heart Disease and Stroke
With an increase in BMI, there is also an increased risk for heart disease. Obesity leads to the buildup of plaque (a waxy substance) inside the coronary arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. Plaque obstructs blood flow to the heart.
Moreover, obesity may cause or contribute to alterations in cardiac structure and function. The risk of sudden cardiac death as well as a stroke is also increased with obesity.
Plus, obesity increases the risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and both conditions increase the risk of heart disease or strokes.
A 2006 study published in Circulation reports that obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder and is associated with cardiovascular diseases and increased morbidity and mortality rates.
A 2008 study published in the Journal of American Board of Family Medicine notes that obesity affects the cardiovascular system directly in many ways, in addition to its indirect effects, and it increases morbidity and mortality.
The study also stresses taking necessary steps to stop the obesity epidemic to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases in people.
Later, a 2009 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology summarized the adverse effects of obesity on cardiovascular disease risk factors and its role in the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases.
If you are overweight, try to lose some pounds, especially around your waist, to protect yourself from a heart attack or stroke.
5. Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty liver disease (both alcoholic as well as nonalcoholic) is common in obese people. In this condition, fat builds up in the liver and causes inflammation or scarring.
It can ultimately lead to severe liver damage, cirrhosis (scar tissue) or even liver failure.
A 2008 study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reports that liver disease of metabolic origin, associated with obesity, is a common liver disease in Western countries.
The study stresses adopting a healthier lifestyle to reduce the risk of obesity-associated liver disease.
A 2016 study published in the Journal of Lipid Research reports that it is likely that it is the saturated fat, not unsaturated fat, that raises sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) levels in obese people, and S1P unleashes the inflammation that characterizes nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
People suffering from fatty liver disease are advised to lose weight, eat a healthy diet, increase physical activity and avoid drinking alcohol.
Always opt for a gradual and sustained weight loss target, as rapid weight loss can be damaging to the liver.
6. Cancer
Cancer occurs when cells in body start growing abnormally or out of control. According to the CDC, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S.
While there are several risk factors for developing cancer, being overweight is one of them. Obesity increases the risk of developing certain cancers, such as breast, colon, rectum, uterus, gallbladder and kidney cancer.
In fact, death due to cancer in obese people is also high.
A 2003 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reports that higher BMI in both men and women was significantly associated with higher rates of death due to cancer of the esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, breast, uterus, cervix and kidney.
Later, a 2013 study published in the Journal of Obesity also shed light on the connection between obesity and cancer, irrespective of gender and site specification.
Maintaining a healthy weight through healthy eating and physical activity plays a key role in reducing the rise in cancer risk.
7. Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder in which there are brief pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep. It causes restless sleep throughout the night and leads to sleepiness during the day. It also causes heavy snoring.
Obesity is one of the leading risk factors for sleep apnea. An overweight person may have more fat stored around his or her neck, making the airway smaller and breathing difficult.
A 2008 study published in American Thoracic Society reports that obesity is a potent risk factor for the development and progression of sleep apnea and is due to the distribution of adiposity between the central and peripheral compartments.
This study also shows that when patients with sleep apnea lose weight, improvements in upper airway function and disease severity are noticed.
A 2011 study published in South Dakota Medicine suggests that even modest weight loss improves obstructive sleep apnea as well as positively affects both metabolic and cardiovascular risk profiles
8. Gallbladder Disease
Gallbladder disease and gallstones are more common in overweight people. Excess cholesterol is one prominent reason behind gallstones, pebble-like materials that develop within the gallbladder.
Studies have shown that people with an abnormally high BMI are at a higher risk of suffering from gallstone disease. In fact, abdominal fat increases the risk of gallstone disease more.
A 2004 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shed light on the association between abdominal adiposity and the incidence of symptomatic gallstone disease, independently of BMI.
A 2012 study published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition analyzed data of 510,000 children, ages 10 to 19, and concluded that obese children, especially females, were more likely to have gallstones.
Later, a 2013 published in Hepatology analyzed 77,679 participants from the general public in Denmark and showed that overweight women were at greater risk for developing gallstones than men.
Researchers also found that gallstone disease is more likely to affect females who were less physically active and the risk increases by 7% for every 1 kg/M2 increase in BMI.
By maintaining a healthy weight, you can prevent gallstones and other gallbladder problems. When it comes to weight loss, avoid rapid weight loss and focus on losing 1 to 2 pounds per week.
9. Reproductive Problems
Obesity can cause menstrual issues and infertility in women, and erectile dysfunction, low sperm count and other sexual health issues in men.
A 2008 study by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine reports that obesity increases the risk of many complications of pregnancy and is associated with menstrual dysfunction, decreased fertility and increased risk of miscarriages. The study even recommends weight loss before pregnancy is prudent for young women.
Later, a 2010 study published in the Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences highlighted the impact of female obesity on the outcome of fertility treatment.
Gradual and sustained weight loss regularizes menstrual cycles and increases the chance of spontaneous ovulation and conception in overweight and obese women.
Obesity even affects fertility in men. A 2012 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine reports that men who are overweight or obese are at a greater risk for infertility.
As compared with men of normal weight, obese men are more likely to have a low sperm count or not have any viable sperms.
Pregnant women who are obese are at an increased risk for developing gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and the need for a C-section during delivery.
Plus, babies born to overweight or obese mothers are at an increased risk of being born too soon, being stillborn and having neural tube defects.
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