Health Problems Associated With Obesity
Being obese is a serious health issue that is consistently at the forefront of national and international news, with the amount of obese and overweight people in the UK and the US rising.
What does obesity do to your health?
The problems associated with being obese do not end at the aesthetic problem, there are also various health risks associated with being just a little bit overweight, meaning that it is important to reduce and regulate your weight if you are obese.
The health issues include heart disease (including the risk of stroke), high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, osteoarthritis, gallbladder disease (including gallstones), gout and breathing problems that can affect breathing during sleep (sleep apnea). .
Obesity and heart disease.
Heart disease is possibly the most talked about health condition associated with being obese. This is because conditions such as coronary heart disease are the biggest killers in the UK and in they are high on the list of causes of death in the Western World.
Those who are overweight are likely to have increased blood pressure and very high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Decreased oxygen to the heart caused by being overweight can also cause angina.
Heart disease is treatable in the modern day and does not always lead to death, but by losing weight you will decrease the chances of such an event occurring.
More Information on Obesity Surgery
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» Obesity facts
» What is my BMI?
» Are you a candidate for obesity surgery?
» What are the different types of obesity surgery?
» Gastric banding
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» What are the risks of obesity surgery?
» How your life will change after weight loss surgery?
Obesity and cancer.
Cancer is something that is also at the forefront of health conditions mentioned in the media, due to its causes being unknown in a lot of cases, though obesity has been linked to cancers in women that include cancers of the uterus, colon, breasts, ovaries, cervix and gallbladder and in men the colon, prostate and rectum.
Obesity, diabetes and other health risks.
As well as these it has also been linked to diabetes, in particular type 2 diabetes with the overweight having double the chance of developing the condition than those who are not.
It is therefore important to diet and exercise to avoid it and if you already have it, to control it. On top of this there is also the risk of joint diseases caused by the extra weight putting pressure on the joints (osteoarthritis – affecting the hips, lower back and knees) or because of increased uric acid in the blood (gout).
You should also be aware of gallbladder disease and gallstones which are also connected with obesity. Overall there is an increased mortality rate associated with obesity as it is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the world.
Find out more
If you would like to find out more about obesity surgery, or arrange a consultation, contact us today on 08707 606 555, or by completing our online enquiry form for an immediate response.