One-thirds of Americans are obese. Obesity is a physical disorder where there is excess accumulation of fat cells in the body. It affects the body by decreasing the life expectancy of the patient and by increasing the risk of developing a range of obesity-related ailments.
A factor called body mass index (BMI) is used to determine this condition. According to this factor, a person is obese if the BMI is above 30 kg/m2.
Sedentary life style, excess consumption of cheap and easily available junk fruits and lack of physical activity are the primary reasons behind severe rate of obesity in the United States. This article focuses on how obesity is related to other dreadful diseases.
Top 10 Obesity-Related Ailments:
1.Heart Ailments: Excess body fat increases cholesterol levels in the blood. This leads to formation of cell debris or plaque in the veins and arteries of the heart. Reduced oxygen rich blood flow to and from heart increases the risk of heart diseases.
2.Type 2 Diabetes: Research studies have found that obesity alters the genes in the body making it less sensitivity to the hormone insulin. Its production is also hampered increasing the levels of glucose in the blood of diabetic patients.
3.Stroke: A research study carried out at the at the University of Minnesota in Minneapoli in January 2010 found that obese people were 1.43-2.12 times higher at risk of getting stroke, irrespective of race and gender. The results were published in Stroke: Journal of the American Heart Association.
4.Osteoarthritis: Excess body weight puts additional stress to the already swollen joints of the arthritis patients. This increases pain and other complications.
5.Depression: Obese people are always conscious of the undesirable attention and stigmatization they have to face in public constantly. This affects the self-esteem greatly leading to depression.
6.Breast Cancer in Women: Obesity is an established risk factor for developing breast cancer especially in postmenopausal women, according to a research article of the National Institute of Health.
7.High Blood Pressure: Obesity causes secretion of insulin hormone in high levels. This leads to changes in the body involving thickening of blood vessels, increase in the volume of the blood by reabsorption of salt and water by kidneys.
8.Asthma: Excess causes of obesity and severe asthma are not known yet. But there are certain factors which are believed to play a vital role in the severity of the condition. Obese people breathe frequently. Their chest wall and abdominal mass is high. This affects the normal functioning of lungs and airways by placing excess stress on them.
9.Erectile Dysfunction and Menstrual Irregularities: Obese men have lower levels of the hormone testosterone in their body. There were abnormalities found in the penile blood flow too. A study conducted in October 2008 and published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, the official journal of the International Society for Sexual Medicine found these results.
In obese women, the levels of the testosterone hormone increase leading to irregularities in their menstrual cycle.
10.Pregnancy Complications: Obesity doubles the risk of birth of a child with neural defeats. Infertility, blood clots and gestational diabetes are other pregnancy related complications in these women.
