OBESITY

OBESITY

The unhealthy diets and haphazard lifestyles of the present times have
contributed to an alarming increase in Obesity rates in both kids and
adults.

And it's not just a cosmetic problem. Obesity has also cropped up as a major
health issue leading to a numerous ailments and complications.

As per medical standards, if a person's Body Mass Index (BMI) is higher
than 30, he or she is obese. At the moment, the condition has been elevated
to a serious public health problem and is becoming a cause of many
fatalities worldwide.

In this piece, we'll discuss some of the grave risks associated with
obesity.

Recent studies indicate that an obese person is likely to develop one or
more of these problems:

High Blood Pressure
Hypertension is strongly attached to obesity. Presence of additional body
fat leads to the circulation of more blood to those tissues as they need
oxygen and nutrients to survive. This requires the heart to pump more blood
and in this process the work load on the heart and the pressure on the
artery walls go up.

Type 2 Diabetes
Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, also called Type 2 Diabetes, is
another common health problem among obese patients. Research data shows that
such people are twice as likely to develop diabetes. This condition is one
of the chief causes of early death, kidney disease, heart disease and even
blindness.

Heart Diseases and Stroke
An obese person has 10 times more chances of developing atherosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries) as compared to a non-obese person! Other heart
ailments like Coronary Heart Disease (CAD) and heart attack are more common
in bulky and obese people.

Cholesterol
Such people may also develop high blood levels of cholesterol and
triglycerides which is linked to a number of heart ailments and stroke.

Cancer
Overweight men are quite prone to developing cancer of the rectum, colon and
prostrate, whereas women are likely to develop breast cancer, ovarian
cancer, and cancer of the uterus.

Sleep Apnea

This is a sleeping disorder in which the patient snores heavily and his
breathing rate is abnormally low. The risk of sleep apnea increases with
higher body weights but can be countered with lifestyle changes and
effective weight-loss programs.

Osteoarthritis

A fat person's joints have to withstand extra pressure. This can lead to the
wearing out of the protective cartilage in between the joints, the condition
being known as Osteoarthritis. This is particularly seen in weight-bearing
joints like knee, hips and lower back joints. This unnecessary pressure on
joints can be lessened by regular weight loss exercise and a balanced diet.

"WATCH YOUR WEIGHT, AVOID OBESITY, EXERCISE DAILY"