The dangers of being overweight or obese!

Here’s the honest truth… you can die from being too fat! And the fatter you get, the greater the chance you could develop a problem that can kill you.

In the USA, more than three hundred thousand people die every year from being too fat.

If you are between the ages of thirty and sixty-five, and you are as little as fifteen to twenty pounds over your recommended ideal weight, your risk of dying is higher than a person with a healthy weight.

And you have a staggering fifty percent to one hundred percent higher risk of dying early if your BMI is over thirty, or in other words, you are obese.

Heart disease - it's dangerous being overweight

If you have a Body Mass Index over twenty-five, in other words classified as overweight or obese, you are at risk of developing a heart disease. This can include pains in the chest, heart attack, unusual heart rhythm, heart attack or failure, even sudden death.

Overweight or obese individuals generally suffer from high blood pressure, so if you are overweight or obese, and you haven’t had your blood pressure checked, do so as soon as possible.

Diabetes and obesity

People have normal weight or who have not gained weight have a much lower risk profile than those who have gained weight. In fact an increase in weight of between ten and twenty pounds increases the risk of getting type two diabetes by more than double. It is estimated that more than eighty per cent of diabetic sufferers are obese, or above their recommended weight.

Cancer and overweight

Research has shown that overweight or obese individuals are at much greater risk of developing some form of cancer. This can include cancer of several different organs such as the colon, gall bladder and kidneys. Women are at risk of developing post menopausal breast cancer and cancer of the uterus lining.

Problems related to breathing

Obese people often have sleeping problems, in particular sleep apnea. Obesity can also lead to asthma.

Arthritis and obesity

Statistics show that as weight increases, the chance of developing arthritis increases, by about ten percent for every two pounds gained.

Obesity and pregnancy

If you are obese and fall pregnant, you are putting your own life and the life of your baby at risk. The risk of high blood pressure in the mother is increased by a massive ten times!

Other dangers related to obesity and pregnancy include problems with labor and delivery as well as gestational diabetes.

But the major concern is for the baby. Babies born to obese women are likely to be overweight and can have low blood sugar. This in turn is associated with seizures and brain damage. It is also more likely that a Cesarean section birth will be necessary.

Another area of concern relating to obesity and pregnancy is defects of the neural tube, for example spina bifida.\

Other health issues related to obesity

There are a number other medical complications that may arise from being too fat. Naturally you should ask you doctor for advice. But here is a partial list of medical problems associated with obesity…

• depression
• gall bladder disease
• increased surgical risk
• incontinence

Social issues related to obesity

Overweight people are often discriminated against. Although it would be difficult to prove in mot cases, the facts are that many companies, particularly those in the hospitality industry, want healthy looking people dealing with their customers. And in the minds of most people, healthy people are thin people. Well, if not thin, then not too fat!

And you have to admit, If your career requires you to be active, then you need to be healthy and as close to normal weight as possible.

Remember, being overweight or obese is dangerous!