subject: Know And Understand The Dangers Of Obesity [print this page] If you are overweight - even if you are not considered obese by medical standards - you need to be very aware of what the dangers of obesity are. This is because those who carry an extra ten or twenty pounds are typically going to become obese if they do not quickly get control of the situation.
Obesity isn't just uncomfortable. It doesn't just make you feel unwell. It doesn't just cause minor health issues. Obesity is deadly, causing approximately 300,000 deaths each year. You do not have to be morbidly obese to die - you could also die if you are just twenty pounds overweight, because any excess weight puts you at higher risk for serious health problems, with the end result being death.
Heart disease and diabetes are the most common ill effects of being obese, in terms of medical conditions. High blood pressure is also a factor. Scientists have also found that there are increased instances of colon cancer, gall bladder problems, prostate cancer, kidney failure, endometrial cancer, and breast cancer in obese people.
As your body size increases, you become less active. This inactivity creates more health problems. When you aren't moving as often as necessary for good health, your cells are not getting enough oxygen. You also are not sweating as often as you should be, and sweat is essential to help eliminate toxins from the body.
People who are overweight tend to develop arthritis in the joints. Every pound you add to your body creates four pounds of pressure to the joints that support that weight. Arthritis isn't the only problem. Tendonitis and other bone, muscle, and tendon problems can also be a result.
Aside from the internal health problems going on, you must also be aware of the external problems that are developing. People who have serious obesity problems have a hard time cleaning and drying in the folds of their skin. This can cause the skin to rot, and in many cases, mold can grow in those folds as well. Even if you lose the weight, if you are over a certain age, the skin may not shrink back, as it has lost its elasticity. Often, in this case, cosmetic surgery is required to have the excess skin removed.
As you can see, there really are many dangers associated with being obese. If you are overweight - even if you don't feel that you fit the description of obese - it is important that you talk with your doctor to come up with an eating and exercise plan to bring your weight under control.
