Obesity (overweight) and the risk factors associated with it - Nav Imperial Hospital

Everything you need to know about obesity and the risk factor associated with it.

Obesity is a complex disease involving excessive body fat. Obesity is more than it looks, it can disturb your life. It is a medical problem that puts you at an increased risk for other diseases and health problems, such as diabetes, sleep apnea, and certain types of cancer. It can not only affect your physical health but also cause you adverse health diseases.

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Stages of Obesity

The BMI of a person tells that he/she is obese or not. The person is obese if your BMI is above 30.0.

The following are the conditions that tell that your weight is healthy.

  • If your BMI is below 18.5 then you are underweight.
  • If your BMI is between 18.5-24.9 then your weight is perfect.
  • If your BMI is between 25.0-29.9 then you are overweight.

Basically, above 30.0 BMI, the person comes under the obese category. The main 3 stage of obesity includes the following:

  • If your BMI is between 30.0-34.0 then you are obese or at the first stage of obesity.
  • If your BMI is between 35.0-39.9 then you are obese or at the second stage of obesity.
  • If your BMI is above or equal to 40.0, you are obese or at the third stage of obesity.

Causes of obesity

Obesity is usually caused by a combination of inherited factors, the environment, and one's diet and exercise choices. The following are the major causes of obesity

Poor Diet

Intake of poor diet is the common cause of obesity. Drinking too much alcohol, eating a large amount of fast or processed food, consuming too many sugary drinks, and eating more protein than you need can cause you problems of obesity.

No physical activity

Lack of physical activity also causes obesity in a person. If the energy consumed by your body is not utilized properly then it is stored in your body as fat and causes obesity.

Genetic factor

Genetic factors can also cause obesity. If the family members are obese then the risk of getting obese is increased.

Medical condition

Some medical conditions such as hypothyroidism and other more diseases can cause obesity.

Also Read: What is bariatric surgery

Risk Factors of Obesity

The risk of developing several serious health problems is greater for obese people; the following are the risk factors for the person with obesity.

Risk-Factors-of-Obesity

Type 2 diabetes

It occurs when your blood glucose levels are too high. Blood sugar levels are controlled by insulin which can be affected by obesity. You are more likely to develop insulin resistance and diabetes if you are overweight.

Sleep Apnea

Obese people are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes you to stop breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea increases your risk of other health problems, such as type-2 diabetes and heart disease.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a long-term health problem that causes pain, swelling, and reduced movement in the joints. The extra pressure put on your joints and cartilage caused by obesity can raise your risk of developing osteoarthritis.

Gynecological and infertility problems

Women who are obese may suffer from infertility and irregular periods. Men with obesity may suffer from erectile dysfunction. The risk of the gynecological disorder increases if you suffer from obesity.

Heart disease

Heart disease refers to a number of conditions that may affect your heart. Obesity increases the risk of developing heart diseases. You may suffer a heart attack, heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina, or an abnormal heart rhythm if you are obese.

Digestive issues

A person with obesity is more likely to suffer from heartburn, gallbladder disease, and liver disease. You may face problems in the digestion of food and more.

Fatty liver diseases

People with obesity are at high risk of developing fatty liver disease. Fatty liver diseases are conditions in which the liver of our body becomes fatty. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are types of fatty liver diseases. Fatty liver diseases can cause severe liver damage, cirrhosis, or even liver failure.

Stroke

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut off due to a blockage or rupture of a blood vessel. A stroke can damage brain tissue and limit your ability to speak and move. Obesity causes high blood pressure and it is the leading cause of strokes.

Cancer

You might be at risk of cervix, uterine, endometrial, colon, rectum, breast, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, and prostate cancer if you are obese.

High Blood Pressure or hypertension

Obesity can cause hypertension or high blood pressure. Hypertension is a condition in which the blood flows through your blood vessels with a greater force than normal. You are more likely to suffer from a heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and death when you have really very high blood pressure.

Gallbladder diseases

Obesity can increase your risk of developing gallbladder diseases, such as cholecystitis and gallstones. Biles made up because of imbalanced substances cause gallstones.

Kidney disease

The most common cause of kidney disease is high blood pressure and diabetes. Obesity increases the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, thus causing kidney diseases. Regardless of whether you have diabetes or high blood pressure, obesity can contribute to kidney disease.

Obesity can be cured by dietary changes, exercise, physical activity, lifestyle changes, and more. Contact the best doctors at NAV Imperial Hospital and get rid of obesity.