Obesity is a medical term that means you weigh 20% or over what's normal for someone of your height, usually due to the body's fat. It's measured using BMI (body mass index), a value of 30-plus is considered obese. 

The extra weight, mainly because of the belly fat, could lead to health problems that take on each other. Losing weight can delay, prevent or even reverse a lot of them. Obesity and weight gain can increase your risk of certain health issues and be associated with specific social and emotional problems.

Heart disease

Obesity causes various issues that could impact your heart. If you suffer from heart disease, it could be a heart attack, heart failure, sudden cardiac death, or an irregular heart rhythm.

High blood pressure levels, abnormal amounts of blood fats, and elevated blood glucose levels could increase your risk of heart disease. These blood fats are also referred to as blood lipids, consisting of HDL cholesterol( good cholesterol), LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides( bad cholesterol). 

Losing 5 to 10 percent of your weight can reduce the risk of heart disease. If you weigh 100 kg, you could lose only 10 kg and improve your health and heart status. 

Hardened Arteries

Obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol inflammation that comes with it may wear down your arteries, making them stiff and thick. The narrow or blocked vessels cannot provide enough blood flow to cells of the tissue and your organs. 

Even though you don't show any symptoms initially, this lack of circulation can eventually result in an attack on your heart, heart failure, or a stroke.

Trouble Breathing

Your more considerable body might stop your lung's capacity from expanding fully; also, your breathing muscles could not function as effectively, and you won't be able to take enough air into your lungs. Inflammation associated with belly fat can also impact lung capacity. 

It is possible to get breathless even when doing something as simple as climbing steps. The extra weight can cause asthma symptoms to worsen or COPD to become worse.

The condition, often known as hypertension, is where blood flows through blood vessels with an intensity higher than usual. High blood pressure may cause heart strain, damage the blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attack, kidney disease, stroke, and even death.

Digestive system

Obesity has been linked to increased gastroesophageal disease risk. GERD is a condition that occurs when stomach acid is released through the stomach into the esophagus.

Additionally, obesity can increase the chance of developing gallstones. This happens when the bile gets accumulates and forms a hardening within the gallbladder. This could require surgery. Additionally, fat may build up around the liver, causing fatty liver damage, causing scar tissue, liver damage, and even cirrhosis and failure of the liver.

Kidney disease

Kidney disease is when your kidneys have been damaged and cannot filter blood as they should. Obesity increases the risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure, the most frequent reasons for kidney problems. Even if you're not affected by high blood pressure or diabetes, being overweight can lead to kidney disease and accelerate the progression of kidney disease.

Reproductive system

Obesity can make it harder to become pregnant. It is also connected to lower testosterone levels, which can cause conceiving difficulties. Furthermore, obesity may increase the risk of severe problems during pregnancy.

Muscle and skeletal systems

Obesity can lead to bone and muscle mass density decline, known as osteosarcopenic obesity. The condition can cause an increased likelihood of fractures and physical disabilities or insulin resistance, as well as lower general health results. The extra weight could put too much stress on joints, causing stiffness and pain. It also leads to an increased incidence of arthritis and bone fractures. 

Fatty Liver Disease

When fat deposits build up in the liver, it can create a tissue scar (a condition called cirrhosis), which could stop your liver from functioning altogether. The symptoms may not be apparent until damage has been done. 

Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a widespread disorder that causes you not to breathe normally while you sleep. You might stop breathing for short durations of duration. Sleep apnea that is not treated can increase the risk of developing other health issues, including poor concentration, lethargy, headaches, type 2 heart disease, and diabetes.

Gout

The accumulation of uric acid in your body can cause needle-like crystals, which cause joints such as that of the biggest toe or knees to get painful. 

The probability of experiencing a flare increases depending on the number on the scale as well as the amount of belly fat, particularly if you suffer from high cholesterol and blood sugar issues, as well. An exercise-based diet and heart-healthy practices can help reduce the amount of uric acid and also your weight.

Mental health

Obesity has been linked to various mental health issues in different groups. People who are overweight may be more likely to suffer from the following:

  • Psychopathological signs
  • Negative emotions
  • Lower sense of wellbeing

One approach to tackle the issues is to focus on positive strategies, such as relaxing techniques and strengthening self techniques to improve mood and lessen anxiety, depression, inner tension, and stress.

Obesity can also be linked to an increased risk of depression, self-esteem issues, and problems with body image.

Cancer

As you gain weight in adulthood, whether or not it causes you to become overweight, you are more likely to develop colorectal, breast endometrial, and kidney cancers. This could be because fat cells release hormones that affect how cells develop. 

It could also be because practices that contribute to weight increase are similar to those that cause cancer. Be active and eat healthy to avoid getting cancer, regardless of weight.

Stroke

Stroke is a condition that occurs in which the blood supply to the brain is suddenly cut off. This is caused by an obstruction or the rupture in a blood vessel within the neck or in your brain. A stroke could affect brain tissue and render it impossible to speak or move your body. High blood pressure is the most common reason for strokes.

Gallstones

Bile, which is a form that is a digestive fluid, does not flow through your gallbladder as the way it ought to; it may lead to poor gallbladder function and cause the development of gallstones. The most frequent kind is composed predominantly of cholesterol. 

Women who are overweight have a higher chance of developing these. There may be more than normal cholesterol levels in your liver due to your blood cholesterol levels, or the levels of triglycerides are high (or you take medication to reduce these levels), or you're carrying extra estrogen due to birth control or hormone replacement therapy or pregnancy.

Conclusion

Obesity impacts nearly every aspect of our body. If you're struggling with being overweight, you can manage or reduce some of these risks by combining exercise, diet, and lifestyle modifications.

Just 5 to 10 percent of your weight can lower the chance of developing health problems. You can consider dietician advice/lifestyle measures including exercises / endoscopic obesity balloon placement and bariatric surgery for wt loss consult your doctor about losing weight and sustaining an active way of life.

Also, Read: Alcoholic Liver disease- Can you recover from alcoholic liver disease?

with Dr. Sharad Malhotra

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