Having too much body fat can cause many health problems. It increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and several types of cancer. Excess weight also puts strain on the heart and raises blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Only a small percentage of people who are overweight develop related diseases. The vast majority experience no serious consequences from being slightly overweight. However, it’s important to understand exactly how excess body fat can affect your health and what you can do about it. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about how being overweight affects your health.
What’s the difference between being overweight and being obese?
There are several ways to measure whether a person is overweight or obese. The most straightforward is body mass index (BMI). This is a way of calculating what percentage of your body is made up of fat. It takes into account your weight and your height and is expressed as a number. Being overweight is defined as having a high percentage of body fat, but not enough to be defined as obesity. There are some specific criteria for what this means, but in general, someone who falls into this category is likely to experience some negative health effects. Excessive body fat can increase the risk of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes, among other things. Obesity is defined by having too much body fat and having a very high percentage of body fat. People who are obese are at an even higher risk of developing many of the negative health effects mentioned above, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
How being overweight can affect your health?
Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of developing a number of health problems. This is especially true when combined with a poor diet and a lack of exercise. The risk of type 2 diabetes – In the U.S., 79 million people have diabetes. That’s almost one in 10 people. The vast majority of these cases are type 2 diabetes. This form of the disease is closely linked to being overweight and obese. The risk of developing diabetes is especially high for people who are morbidly obese. The risk of high blood pressure – This is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Although being overweight by itself does not always lead to high blood pressure, it can make other risk factors for this condition worse. For example, if you have a medical condition that causes you to retain fluid, like diabetes or kidney disease, being overweight can increase fluid retention even further. This can raise blood pressure, putting you at greater risk of heart disease and stroke. The risk of cardiovascular disease – This includes heart attack, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. The risk of all three of these conditions is higher in people who are overweight or obese. The risk of cardiovascular disease is even higher in people who are overweight or obese and also have high blood pressure. Other health effects of being overweight or obese – Beyond the above conditions, being overweight or obese can also affect how well your body heals from various injuries or illnesses. It can also affect fertility, cause certain types of cancers, and lead to sleep apnea.
Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. This is a chronic disease that occurs when the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use it effectively. If left untreated, type 2 diabetes can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease, blindness, and loss of limb. Although it’s possible to treat type 2 diabetes, the disease is extremely difficult to reverse. In fact, many people who have diabetes will need to take medication for the rest of their lives. The risk of type 2 diabetes is particularly high in people who are morbidly obese. In this case, even moderate weight loss can significantly reduce the risk of developing the disease. There are many things you can do to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, such as eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise.
Risk of High Blood Pressure
Being overweight or obese can also increase the risk of high blood pressure. This is a chronic condition that increases the force of blood against the walls of the arteries. This, in turn, increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately one-third of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure. The majority of these cases are “essential hypertension,” which is most often caused by obesity. In fact, obesity is the single biggest risk factor for developing high blood pressure. The good news is that the risk of high blood pressure can be reduced by losing weight. Moderate weight loss can even reverse the condition in some cases. According to the American Heart Association, losing as little as 5-10% of your body weight can significantly reduce your risk of high blood pressure.
Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Being overweight or obese is also a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This is a general term that encompasses coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and stroke. Being overweight or obese can increase your risk of all three of these conditions. Coronary artery disease is a blood flow disruption that leads to heart attack. Peripheral vascular disease is a blood flow disruption in the legs, which leads to loss of limb. Stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, which can lead to long-term brain damage. All of these conditions are much more likely to develop in people who are overweight or obese. In fact, the risk is even higher in people who have a high body fat percentage.
Other Health Effects of Being Overweight or Obese
There are a number of other health effects that are associated with being overweight or obese, including: – Sleep apnea – This is a common disorder where the airways are blocked while sleeping. This can cause snoring and can make it very difficult to get a good night’s sleep. Sleep apnea has been linked with obesity. – Certain types of cancer – Several different types of cancers are more common in people who are overweight or obese. These include endometrial cancer, certain types of breast cancer, certain types of colorectal cancers, and certain types of kidney cancers. – Better healing – There is some evidence that being overweight may make it easier for wounds to heal. This may be because fatty tissue has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. However, this effect is minimal in the absence of significant weight gain.
Conclusion
Being overweight or obese is associated with a wide range of health problems. These include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and many other conditions. While it’s possible to be overweight without suffering any negative health effects, the risk is much greater in those who are obese. The good news is that it’s possible to reverse this situation by losing weight. This reduces the risk of developing many of these conditions.
