7 Ways Obesity Harms Your Health
Obesity affects millions of people nationwide. Nearly 37 percent of the adult population has obesity, according to the latest federal statistics. Medically speaking, you have obesity when your body mass index reaches 30 or above.
Aside from making daily activities difficult, obesity can damage your body. It can make you more likely to develop serious diseases. In some cases, it can cause disability and an early death. The good news is that losing weight through bariatric surgery can help lower your risk for many of the problems obesity causes.
Here are seven ways obesity harms your health:
High blood pressure – Many people have high blood pressure and don’t know it. The only way to detect it is to have your blood pressure measured. About 75 percent of high blood pressure cases are related to obesity. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke and kidney disease.
Higher risk of cancer – Obesity may cause up to 90,000 cancer deaths per year, according to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. The higher your body mass index, the greater your risk of developing certain cancers such as:
- Endometrial cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Postmenopausal breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
- Liver cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Thyroid cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Multiple myeloma
Heart disease – Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and men in the United States. Obesity can put you at greater risk. If you have severe obesity, you face a higher risk of a having a heart attack. Obesity also increases your risk of heart failure.
Higher risk of stroke – Having obesity can lead to other stroke risk factors such as heart disease, metabolic syndrome, hypertension, lipid abnormalities, type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea.
Damage to your bones and joints – The extra pounds you carry can take a toll on your bones and joints causing osteoarthritis, gout, herniated discs, spinal disorders, back pain and pseudotumor cerebi – a medical condition that causes headaches and disorientation.
Respiratory problems – Obesity can affect your lung capacity and put you at high risk for respiratory infections. Many people who have obesity also have asthma. Perhaps the most common respiratory disorder for people with obesity is obstructive sleep apnea. A serious breathing disorder, OSA reduces the amount of oxygen in your blood. People often feel tired if they have OSA.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease – If you have GERD, you may experience heartburn, indigestion, throwing up food, coughing, hoarseness and belching, according to the ASMBS. The symptoms are caused by stomach acid or intestinal secretions leaking into your esophagus.
Minimize how obesity harms your health.
Remember, you can take action to overcome obesity. Learn about weight-loss surgical options at Bon Secours Surgical Weight Loss Center. Take our online quiz to see if you may be a candidate for bariatric surgery.