As a person’s weight increases so does the risk of many serious diseases. Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, certain types of cancers, hypertension, strokes, gallbladder disease; the list goes on and on. Unfortunately, as a person gains more weight, their desire to exercise decreases, this also contributes to the increase in diseases.
Most doctors evaluate a person’s weight problems by using a body mass index or BMI. This calculation is determined by several factors including your weight and height. A person is considered overweight when their BMI is over 25.0 and considered obese when their BMI is 30.0 or higher.
As your weight increases, so does your body fat. Additionally, exercise and healthy eating is typically not a priority. Many people can suffer from depression, lack of energy and joint pain due to the weight. For those who battle weight problems, your risk for the following diseases is higher and you should talk with your doctor about your risks and determine a plan that works for you.
- Diabetes Type 2 is one of the more common diseases. Diabetes Type 2 is where the blood has too much blood sugar and the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to offset the glucose. Most diabetic patients are required to take insulin shots several times a day to help balance their blood sugar levels.
- Coronary heart disease is also a common problem for many overweight patients. With a patient caring extra weight, the heart is working overtime. The heart enlarges and is unable to pump blood throughout the body effectively.
- Excessive weight has also been shown to increase the risk of cancers such as endometrial, breast and colon cancer. Those with a family history of these cancers are at an even higher risk when weight is a factor.
- With the reduction of exercise, the body is more likely to develop pulmonary embolism; which is blockage in an artery that can often result in death if not caught in time.
- An overweight person often suffers from high blood pressure, which increases the likelihood of hypertension.
- Gallbladder stones and gallbladder disease are common among people overweight. Often times, the gallbladder will need to be removed.
Though these are very serious diseases, you should also realize that a higher risk of fatty liver disease, erectile dysfunction, infertility, urinary incontinence, chronic renal failure and osteoarthritis are very common as well.
Many patients we see at Hallmark Health System’s Center for Weight Management and Weight Loss Surgery are extremely concerned about these risks and are ready to do something about it. For some patients, diet and exercise can’t always fix the problem long term. With bariatric surgery, patients see a dramatic change in not only their weight, but also their risk of these diseases drops dramatically, living a completely normal and healthy life for many, many years to come.