An interesting (yet scary) fact – obesity is not a disease, but it can cause many different diseases. When people are obese, they are making their bodies a fertile ground for a variety of diseases. We will analyze these health risks caused by extra weight in this guide.
One of the main reasons why obesity leads to diseases is the fact that the body has to put more effort into conducting its natural functions. This is a serious strain on various body parts and organs that can lead to health problems or even death. To raise the awareness of the health risks that those extra pounds on people’s bodies bring, we have created a list of diseases linked to obesity.
- Learn more about the most common diseases associated with obesity
- Find out how extra pounds lead to these health problems
- Discover the options you have to reverse and prevent these problems
Diet and exercise are the most important things that you must take into account if you want to stay healthy. To help you understand the seriousness of this global problem, we will now list the health risks that are caused indirectly or directly by extra weight.
1. Sleep apnea – more than sleeping problems
Did you know that some obese people are waking up during the night because they have suddenly stopped breathing while sleeping? Some of them are unable to notice this which means that they can die in their sleep. This is what sleep apnea is all about. The reason behind this problem is simple – the extra weight of the neck blocks the air supply to the lungs. So, with sleep apnea, you can expect a lower quality of sleep and in some cases even heart failure.
- Sleep apnea is caused by obesity
- This is one of the diseases that can become fatal
- It leads to breathing problems during sleep
2. Angina pectoris – a burden to your chest
Obesity makes people carry extra weight in different body parts. One of these areas is the chest. So, people who are obese are walking around with additional weight that strains the chest muscles. These chest pains are known as angina pectoris. Keep in mind that this is also one of the symptoms of coronary heart disease. By losing weight, you should be able to lower the risk of serious health issues like this.
- Angina pectoris is a condition that affects the chest muscles
- You are straining the muscles due to extra weight
- Some of these chest pains can be fatal
3. Gout – a painful disease
Some of the diseases on this list are not painful, although they are very serious. Gout, on the other hand, is both serious and very painful. It has an impact on the entire body. It’s a result of uric acid accumulation in the joints. When individuals dealing with obesity leave this health problem untreated, they can expect irreversible joint damage.
- Gout is a vicious disease that affects the entire body
- Those extra pounds on the body create uric acid accumulation in the joints
- If not treated in a timely manner, gout can lead to irreversible joint damage
4. Type 2 diabetes – an incurable disease
When people eat more food than necessary, the level of blood glucose goes up. If they do this regularly, which as we know obese people do, there is a high chance that these individuals will develop type 2 diabetes. According to some stats, 80% of type 2 diabetes sufferers are overweight or obese. By cutting just 5 to 7% of your current weight and getting involved in physical activities, you will reduce the risk of developing this type of diabetes.
- Overeating regularly will pave the road to type 2 diabetes
- Diabetes makes you vulnerable to other diseases too
- Physical activity and weight loss will reduce the risk of developing this incurable disease
5. Stroke – a very dangerous health problem
Whenever there’s obstruction with the blood vessels or you experience a blood vessel rupture in the brain or neck, the proper blood flow to the brain is disrupted. This is what a stroke is all about. In many cases, obesity is linked to stroke directly or indirectly. When something like this happens, you can expect damage to the brain. Sadly, sometimes this damage is permanent. People that have experienced strokes often have problems with body movements and talking.
- Stroke is often caused by obesity directly or indirectly
- It can cause permanent damage to people
- It’s high blood pressure that leads to strokes
6. Hypertension as a first step to the onset of diseases
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a health problem that affects thousands of people around the globe. It happens when your body uses additional force to make the blood flow through the blood vessels. This is what happens when these blood vessels are under pressure from those extra pounds. If this is an ongoing problem, your blood vessels will get damaged and weaken your heart. Additionally, you will be prone to heart attack, kidney disease, stroke, and other health issues.
- Hypertension is the medical term that describes high blood pressure
- Ongoing hypertension can damage blood vessels
- Hypertension makes people prone to a wide array of health problems
7. Heart disease – a wide range of medical conditions
Doctors use the term heart disease to cover a wide range of health problems that affect one of the most important organs in the human body. In case you have heart disease, you have more chances of experiencing a cardiac death, heart failure, heart attack, or angina pectoris. Obesity has been linked to heart disease because it contributes to the things that increase the chances of developing this disease like high blood sugar levels, unhealthy levels of fat, and high blood pressure. By losing weight, you should be able to avoid these problems.
- Heart disease is a term that covers a long list of medical problems
- Obesity is the number of one cause of heart disease
- Losing weight can significantly help people avoid this disease
