According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least one in three of the world’s adult population is overweight. It is also estimated that there are over 40 million children under age five who are overweight.
But, do you know that being overweight or carrying extra fat can lead to serious health problems? Dr. Ram Mohan, the best bariatric surgeon is here to explain the health risks associated with being overweight and how weight loss helps.
Health effects of overweight
Overweight is defined as weight above what is considered as healthy (BMI of 25 to 29.9). People who have excess fat in the body are at increased risk of many serious health conditions. Most importantly, being overweight during pregnancy can have a major impact on the health of both the mother and the baby.
Dr.Ram Mohan, the weight loss expert at Inodaya hospital has listed the health risks of being overweight. Many of these conditions cause long-term suffering.
1. Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal. However, most people with diabetes are overweight. This may be due to extra fat causing insulin resistance. When a body makes insulin, the cells can’t use it properly to get glucose out of the blood, and the blood sugar gets elevated.
High blood sugar can lead to heart problems, kidney failure, nerve damage, and blindness. Losing weight, eating a balanced diet and getting physically active can help control blood sugar levels and prevent complications.
2. High blood pressure
Blood pressure is how hard your blood pushes against your artery walls. Hypertension or high blood pressure usually has no symptoms but it may cause serious health problems such as heart diseases and stroke.
When you are overweight and the body is large, your heart needs to pump hard to supply blood to all your cells. Weight loss or getting your body close to normal BMI range may greatly lower high blood pressure.
3. Sleep Apnea and breathing problems
Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person starts and stops in breathing during sleep. A person with sleep apnea may suffer from loud snoring, daytime sleepiness, and unrefreshing sleep.
A person who is overweight may have excess fat stored around the neck that makes the airway smaller. A smaller airway can make breathing difficult or loud and breathing may also stop for shorter periods of time. Weight loss helps decrease neck size and usually improves sleep apnea.
4. Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that causes pain and stiffness in the joints. It often occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time.
Being overweight is one of the risk factors for osteoarthritis as extra weight may place extra pressure on joints and cartilage. If you have Osteoarthritis, losing weight and staying physically active help improve your symptoms.
5. Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty liver disease, also known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a condition in which fat builds up in your liver. This disease may lead to severe liver damage, cirrhosis (scar tissue), or even liver failure.
The actual cause of fatty liver is not known, but it most often affects people who are overweight and obese. Lowering your body to a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, and regular exercise help get rid of fatty liver.
6. Cancers
Cancer occurs when cells in one part of the body grow abnormally or out of control. These cancerous cells sometimes spread to the other parts of the body such as breast, liver, colon, and kidney, etc.
Gaining weight increases the risk of several cancers, whether or not weight gain doesn’t result in overweight. It is unknown how excess weight increases cancer risk, but this may be due to fat cells releasing hormones that affect cell growth. Avoiding weight gain by healthy eating and physical activity lower cancer risk.
The risk of health problems starts when a person is slightly overweight, and the risk increases as the person become more and more overweight.
Are you overweight? Or need more information about other health problems associated with overweight? Or searching for ways to lose weight? Consult Dr. Ram Mohan, the best bariatric and metabolic surgeon at Inodaya Hospitals, Kakinada and prevent further complications.
