Cancer: Nobody really knows why you are higher risk for cancer when you are overweight, but research shows that you are. Nearly 50 percent of all breast cancer cases occur in obese women. A post menopausal woman that gains even a small amount of weight increases her risk for several types of cancer.
High Blood Pressure: You are at twice the risk of having high blood pressure if you are obese. Almost 75 percent of American adults, that are obese, also have high blood pressure. The upside to this is that if you lose even a small amount of weight, you should see a positive change in your blood pressure.
Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is specifically connected to being overweight, with more than 75 percent of obese people suffering from type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is becoming much more common in obese children. However, here again, a small weight loss have a big impact on your sugar levels and how your body utilizes insulin.
Heart Disease: Your heart can be significantly affected by just a weight gain of 20 pounds. More than half of all cases of heart disease occur in obese people. Once again, even a small change in your weight will help your heart health.
Respiratory problems: Sleep apnea is common in overweight people. Sleep apnea occurs when your airway collapse while asleep, causing you to stop breathing. This will also subside with weight loss.
Gallbladder problems: As your weight increase so do your chances of having gall stones. This is true especially in women.
Osteoarthritis: This disease causes the bone and cartilage in your joints to deteriorate, causing joint pain. A small weight gain can cause joint pain, however a minor weight loss decrease your chances of getting arthritis.
Psychological and social implications: Being overweight has a big effect on your self-esteem and how other people view you. I believe overweight people to be one of the most discriminated against groups of people in today's society. Society assumes that because you are overweight, you are lazy and don't care about yourself.
These are the major health affects associated with being overweight. This does not take in to considerations the annoyances associated with obesity, such as; bladder control problems, depression, shortness of breath, having a hard time putting on your shoes, not being able to cross your legs and not being able to keep up with your children.
There are many reasons that people decide to lose weight, but at some point in time it will come down to your health. In America, there are many programs and groups available to help you get started. There is no time like the present to get started on a journey towards a new lifestyle.
