Obesity
Obesity is one of the greatest health threats to Americans
today. Sixty-four percent of adults in the United States are currently
overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese puts you at risk for serious
health conditions, including:
- High blood pressure – The more fatty
tissue your body has, the more blood it needs. Excess weight increases
your blood volume, which puts added pressure on your arteries and
heart. High blood pressure can lead to heart failure, heart attack
or stroke.
- High cholesterol – Excess fat reduces your body’s
ability to produce “good” HDL cholesterol and raises
your triglyceride levels.
- Heart disease – Obesity puts added
strain on your heart. When your heart doesn’t receive enough
oxygen or is overworked, the results can include heart disease,
heart failure, angina or heart attack.
- Stroke – People who
are overweight or obese are at greater risk for stroke. A stroke
occurs when your brain doesn’t
receive enough blood and oxygen, which can lead to severe disability,
paralysis or death.
- Type 2 diabetes – Excess fat makes your
body resistant to insulin, the hormone that controls your body’s
ability to regulate blood sugar. If your blood sugar levels become
too high, you can develop type 2 diabetes. Type 2
diabetes can lead to serious health complications including nerve
damage, kidney damage, blindness, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s
disease.
- Cancer – Studies have shown that being overweight
increases your likelihood of getting cancer. Obesity is associated
with cancers of the colon, esophagus, kidney, uterus and breast.
- Osteoarthritis – Excess
weight puts added pressure on your knees, hips and lower back,
which over time can lead to the joint disorder known as osteoarthritis.
- Sleep
apnea – Being overweight can lead to sleep apnea,
a serious condition in which you stop breathing for short periods
of time during your sleep.
- Fatty liver disease – Fatty accumulations
in your liver can cause inflammation and scarring, which can lead to cirrhosis
of the liver.
- Gallbladder disease – Due to increased cholesterol levels,
people who are overweight or obese are at a greater risk for
developing gallstones, which cause severe back and abdominal pain.
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