5 Side Effect of Obesity Problem You Need to Know

5 Side Effect of Obesity Problem You Need to Know

30-Second Summary

  • Obesity is a condition where a person’s body weight is above average or basically when one has an unhealthy distribution of body fat.
  • According to CDC statistics, about 36.5% of adults in the US alone are obese, while another 32.5% are considered overweight.
  • The condition triggers a host of health risks, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, among others.
  • Luckily, following a solid diet plan, avoiding stress, regularly exercising, and investing in weight loss supplements can help minimize the health risks of obesity.

Introduction

Obesity is a health condition that features excessive body fat that may impair one’s health. It’s one of the most common health conditions, with about 650 million adults worldwide being considered obese.

What most don’t know is that obesity, unlike other health conditions, raises the risk of a slew of serious health complications. An abnormal amount of body fat puts a strain on your bones and organs. It also alters your hormonal balance and metabolism and also increases inflammation issues.

People considered obese have a body mass index (BMI) of about 30 and above (the standard BMI rate is said to be from 18.5 to 24.9). There are various calculators online you can use to check your BMI. You only need to know your weight and height.

Having a risky health condition doesn’t necessarily mean that you might develop other health concerns. However, it might boost your chances of developing one or two health issues. 

With that, here are some of the side effects of obesity and the measures you can take in preventing them. 

What Are the Health Risks of Being Obese?

Some of the prevalent health risks of obesity include:

  • Cardiovascular Diseases – Cardiovascular disease refers to various issues that might affect your heart. When you have heart disease, you might have heart failure, a heart attack, angina, or an irregular heart rhythm. 

High glucose levels, high blood pressure, and excessive blood fats might also increase your risk of having heart disease. Blood fats, or what many refer to as blood lipids, consist of cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. 

Shedding 5% to 10% of your bodyweight might help lower the risk of developing cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, if you are over 200 pounds, this means losing as little as 15 pounds. 

  • Type 2 Diabetes – Considered one of the most common health issues among people aged 45 and above, type 2 diabetes occurs when the blood sugar exceeds the normal range (7.8 mmol/L). You’re diagnosed with diabetes if your blood sugar levels are as high as 11.1 mmol/L.

Over time, type 2 diabetes can trigger various health conditions like nerve damage, kidney disease, and even vision problems. 

If you’re obese, losing 5% to 7% of the weight and reaping the benefits of exercise can help prevent type 2 diabetes. 

  • Sleep Apnea – Sleep apnea is a condition where a person might momentarily stop breathing while they’re asleep. It’s estimated that one in ten adults in the US alone has obstructive sleep apnea – that’s about 18 million people.

People considered obese or overweight are at a higher risk of developing sleep apnea. That’s because they have excessive amounts of fats stored around the neck, shrinking the airways. Smaller airways can trigger snoring and cause difficulty in breathing at night. 

Since it’s hard to lose weight without exercise, you need to ensure that you do several neck exercises and cardio training to help reduce the amount of fat around your neck and eventually lower the risk of sleep apnea. 

  • Gallbladder Disease – The gallbladder stores a harmful yet vital substance known as bile and passes it to the ileum during digestion. Bile plays a significant role in digesting fats. 

So, when you have obesity, you improve the risk of developing gallstones. Gallstones occur when one has high cholesterol levels in their body or large gallbladders that don’t work. It might also happen when there’s a bile buildup – this causes your gallbladder to harden, thus the gallstones.

Following healthier diet tips like consuming a fiber-rich diet and healthy fats like avocado can help prevent gallstones. You might also want to avoid taking refined products like bread, processed sugars, pasta, and white rice. 

  • Depression – According to a 2010 study, people living with obesity have a 55% risk of developing depression than those who aren’t. People considered to be obese often experience discrimination due to their body size, which leads to a feeling of self-loathe and sadness. 

Luckily, today organizations like the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance are working to create awareness of discrimination based on one’s boy size. The advocacy group also provides opportunities for obese persons to fight against this form of discrimination. 

If you are obese and have been feeling low lately, make sure to check with your doctor for a referred therapist or mental health professional. 

How Can You Lower the Risk?

Apart from reaping the benefits of exercise, you can also prevent the side effects of obesity by doing the following.

  • Follow A Healthy Diet Plan. Obesity calls for investing in healthier diet tips. So, rather than consuming processed foods, focus on low-calorie, nutrient-rich foods like vegetables, whole grains, and fruits. 

Make sure to also eat three meals a day with restricted snacking. You can still enjoy some small amounts of high-calorie foods, but be sure to select foods that support a healthy weight and promote good health.

  • Try A Weight Training Regimen. It’s hard to lose weight without exercise, but you’ll even lose more when you consider having a solid weight training routine. 

This involves exercises such as goblet squats, dumbbell rows, triceps extensions, and hammer curls. Working on your strength training two to three times a week will help you lose weight and allow you to gain some much-needed muscles. 

  • Try Dietary Supplements. When exercise and diets don’t seem to work the magic, some weight loss supplements might help you shed off the excess weight. 

If you have no idea where to start, you can check some of the Keto GT reviews and see if the dietary formula may help you kick obesity to the curb. 

  • Avoid Stressful Situations. Apart from taking weight loss supplements, it would help if you also avoid stress at all costs. Contrary to what most people believe, stress can be a significant trigger for obesity. 

So, when you feel overwhelmed, try some stress-relieving strategies like meditation, therapy, or yoga and be a Zen step closer to managing obesity. 

The Bottom Line

Obesity can have detrimental effects on your physical and mental health. Fortunately, eating a healthier diet, regularly exercising, and practicing stress-relieving exercises can help you be a step closer to managing obesity and ultimately preventing the onset of complications like depression and type 2 diabetes.

If dieting and weight training programs don’t help you out, be sure to check out Keto GT reviews. Who knows, the dietary formula might be just what you need to lose some weight and enjoy a healthier life.

If nothing seems to work for you, make sure to talk to your doctor. There might be other treatment options that might be better for you. 

References:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/210608

 

Clare Louise