Health Risks Tied to Obesity

Obesity has been a big health problem in the U.S. for years, and there’s no sign of it going away soon. In fact, more than one-third of adults in the U.S. are obese, and they face risks of developing serious weight-related conditions. If your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or higher, get to know the health risks that come with obesity as well as the options available to help you lose weight.

Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is just one of the health risks of obesity. It occurs because being obese puts extra stress on the cells, affecting the insulin receptors. Common symptoms of diabetes include extreme thirst, frequent urination, headaches and infections that take a long time to heal.

High Blood Pressure

Having too much body fat means your heart has to work harder to circulate your blood. This puts pressure on the walls of the arteries. High blood pressure usually doesn’t result in obvious symptoms, so you should talk to your doctor if you’re at risk for this condition.

Cholesterol Imbalance and Heart Disease

Obesity can lower the levels of good cholesterol in the body, which in turn can increase the risk of stroke and heart disease. These conditions are often life-threatening, so it’s important to get to a healthy weight as soon as possible.

Sleep Apnea

Obesity can also lead to sleep apnea. This is a serious condition that causes you to stop breathing for a few seconds at a time. Sleep apnea not only reduces your quality of sleep, but it can also deprive your brain of oxygen, which can result in life-threatening health problems.

How to Avoid These Conditions

The only way to avoid these and other obesity-related health problems are to lose weight. Of course, that’s easier said than done. If you’re having trouble losing weight with a healthy diet and regular exercise, you can talk to a doctor about other options. One method of weight loss right for some obese people is surgery. There are several types of weight loss surgery you can look into if you need to lose weight quickly. They include a gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and the Lap-Band, to name the most common options. With these surgeries, the point is to reduce the capacity of the stomach so you do not need to eat much to feel full, which should lead to major weight loss within months. Of course, the effects of weight loss surgery are meant to be permanent, so talk to a medical professional to make sure you are a good candidate. Once you qualify, you can look forward to enjoying a healthy weight faster than you might imagine.