Being obese or overweight has many adverse health effects. Obesity or weight problems associated with children and teenagers can lead to increased medical risks later in life. Overweight adults too run the risk of serious or life-threatening ailments. Having dealt with a number of obese people, I can say that being overweight can have a serious impact on your health. Besides the associated health risks, obesity or being overweight affects one’s mobility to a large extent. Such people are deprived of the fun of outdoor life and sports. The inability to do physical activity and to participate in sports further adds to the existing weight problem. In short, medically things can only go worse for overweight and obese people. They run the risk of developing dangerous health conditions, which are described here.

Hypertension

In common parlance, hypertension is known as high blood pressure. Hypertension is dangerous and is known as a silent killer. There could be no external symptoms to suggest that a person is suffering from this condition. You could be relaxed and calm and yet suffer from high blood pressure. Many people could be having high blood pressure for years without being aware of it. This is what makes hypertension a potentially dangerous condition.

Obesity and overweight conditions are normally associated with hypertension. The exact reason and mechanism involved may not have been found, but it could be due to metabolic changes and peripheral resistance. Researchers are of the opinion that obesity could lead to increased pressure due to volume increase and not constriction of blood vessels. The blood volume increase is attributed to the way sodium is handled in the body. People under stress are known to have increased blood pressure due to blood vessel constriction. The kidneys do not allow the passage of sodium to help increase the volume of blood.

As stress comes to a pass, sodium should be allowed eviction by the kidneys. However, some people have the tendency to hold on to the sodium even after the stress is over. This delays natriuresis, a process through which the sodium is expelled from the body.

Fat has been found to make certain secretions including angiotensinogen, which is responsible for constriction of blood vessels. Thus, people with excess fat will secrete more of such substances leading to consistent constriction of blood vessels. The subcutaneous fat secretes leptin, which has appetite-suppressing properties. More adipose tissue produces more leptin, which is the body’s mechanism to suppress appetite. It is the body’s way of telling overweight people not to eat excessively, and hence, avoid hypertension.

Gallbladder Disease

Gallstones are clusters of small stone-like material that are formed in the gallbladder. Gallstones could range in size from a grain of sand to about a golf ball. One in twelve Americans are said to have gallstones. People may be carrying gallstones without knowing, as they experience no symptoms. This type is known as silent gallstones. Gallstones that cause pain in the abdomen or the back are known as symptomatic gallstones. Gallstones that cause severe pains or threaten to enter the common bile duct necessitate the removal of the gallbladder through surgical process. I would suggest people to be careful for the reason that troubling gallstones can only be removed by removing the gallbladder itself.

How Gallstones Form

Gallstones are formed in the gallbladder. This organ is located just below your liver, and to the right of the abdomen. The pear-shaped organ is about 3 inches in length and one inch at its widest part. The bile produced by your liver is stored in the gallbladder, which releases it into the intestine to dissolve excess cholesterol. The bile juice comprises of water, cholesterol, proteins, bile salts, fats, and bilirubin.

Gallstones may form when there is an excess of cholesterol than can be dissolved, or when the bile consists of high protein content and other substances that cause cholesterol to form hard crystals, or when the gallbladder loses the capacity to empty completely.

Symptoms of Gallstones

You could suspect gallstones when all or some of the following symptoms show up:

• Severe pain in the upper abdomen that may suddenly appear and continue for about half an hour to many hours

• Pain could also appear under the right shoulder blade corresponding to the location of the gallbladder

• Pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting

• Indigestion, especially after consuming food high in fat content

Obesity and Gallstones

People with high body-fat content or those suffering from obesity are strong candidates for gallstones. They are at a higher risk than people with normal weight. How would you know whether you are overweight? Your Body Mass index (BMI) is indicative of your condition. You could categorize yourself on the basis of the following table.

BMI Range*

Category

Up to 18.5

Underweight

18.5 – 24.9

Normal weight

25 – 29.9

Overweight

30 and above

Obese

*The Formula for Calculating BMI

You could use the formula given here to calculate your BMI:

(1 meter = 100 cms)

weight in kilograms

BMI = ---------------------------------------------

height in meters x height in meters

OR

(1 foot = 12 inches)

weight in pounds x 703

BMI = ---------------------------------------------

height in inches x height in inches

The risk of gallstones formation is directly proportionate to the increase in BMI, especially so in the case of women. Women with a BMI above 32 triple their risk in comparison to those with a BMI of 25. The risk factor grows 7 times in women with BMI above 45 in comparison to women with a BMI below 24.

The reason why obese people are at risk is that they may produce higher levels of cholesterol. Thus, the bile may contain more cholesterol, which may not dissolve completely. The undissolved cholesterol may lead to the formation of gallstones. Obese people tend to have larger gallbladders that may not empty completely. The bile parked there on a regular basis can cause gallstones to form.

Sleep Apnea

Obese people are at risk of suffering from sleep apnea, a condition where breathing might stop for a little while when the person is asleep. They normally have extra fatty tissue in the throat area. This can narrow the throat passage or even partially block the airways. In the initial stages, partial blockage leads to vibration of the tissue while breathing, which produces the irritating sound associated with snoring. As more fatty tissue is formed, the condition worsens, which may temporarily block the air passage while sleeping. This leads to a momentary stoppage of the breathing process. The lack of oxygen can have an adverse affect on the brain and the heart. The person suddenly shudders and gasps for breath to kick-start the breathing process again.

Obesity leads to sleep apnea, which in turn may cause sleep-eating syndrome. Obese people suffering from sleep apnea try to keep awake by keeping themselves busy eating. This leads sleep-eating syndrome, in which case the subject continues to eat something while asleep. This can cause choking. Besides, it can also lead to further weight increase.

Apart from the conditions of snoring and sleep apnea, obesity normally also leads to gastro-esophageal reflux, commonly known as hyperacidity or heartburn. Hyperacidity can cause a lot of discomfort while you are asleep. You could wake up with a burning sensation in the chest and throat area. One of the main causes could be the ingestion of a heavy, greasy or spicy meal, especially just before bedtime. Over the counter medication can provide relief to heartburns. If they do not work, then you may have to consult your health care provider. If you are prone to such attacks often, then it is time you made some changes in your eating pattern. You will find a lot of relief by keeping your last meal of the day lighter. Maintain at least a time gap of two to three hours between your meal and bedtime. This will give time to digest your food before you go off to sleep. The ideal situation would be to have a substantial breakfast, a main meal as lunch, and a light meal as dinner.

Diabetes

Both obesity and childhood obesity can lead to major health problems. With the increase in obesity among children and adults, the incidence of diabetes is on the rise. The past two decades have seen a 50% increase in obesity cases. The rise of obesity is a cause for concern for the medical fraternity, but the parallel increase in the incidence of diabetes is even more worrying.

Diabetes management in obese people is difficult, as the body starts developing resistance to insulin. If you are obese or overweight, you do run the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes mainly affects adults, but there has been a growing trend of children suffering from type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a condition where the number or size of the fat cells in the body increases.

Whether or not you are obese depends on your Body Mass Index (BMI). If you are keen on knowing about your BMI, you can follow the simple mathematical formula mentioned in one of the chapters of this ebook. It would help you know whether you are underweight, overweight, obese, or have normal weight. Your girth is also an index to your being overweight.

Diabetes and obesity are considered the biggest health challenges of the current century. A collective effort at all levels needs to be made to manage these associated problems. Creating awareness at a higher level can only help tackle these serious health issues that are threatening to blow out of proportion. We just cannot deny our love for unhealthy foods. The overweight American population has so far ignored the decades-old efforts, both at the national and local levels, calling people to maintain a healthy and balanced diet in addition to moderate exercise. The result of ignoring these warning signals has aggravated the health crisis of the entire nation.

Sexual Dysfunction

In general, both men and women appear to be suffering from sexual problems, and this malady seems to be spreading at quite a quick rate. Deteriorating relations on this account can be attributed to present day lifestyle. Lifestyle related weight problems and obesity has much to do with sexual dysfunction in people.

Studies have revealed that obese men are more prone to impotence. In fact, both sexes with obese conditions have a higher degree of risk of sexual dysfunction. Obese men have been seen to suffer from erectile dysfunction. Men with cardiovascular risks are more prone to erectile dysfunction because of reduction of blood flow in the penile arteries. If you are obese and suffering from erectile dysfunction, then you can take heart from the fact that it is not a permanent condition. Weight reduction through exercise and healthy diet can help you find your lost sexual activity.

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease is strongly linked to the weight factor. It is quite common among Americans with 13 million of them suffering from this condition.

Obesity could normally lead to coronary heart disease. High blood pressure, heart failure, heart attack, and diabetes are associated with obesity. Researches have shown that the natural shape of the body plays a significant role in coronary heart disease. Apple-shaped bodies that have fat concentrated around their abdomen are more likely to have coronary heart disease than pear-shaped bodies with fat around the hip and thigh areas.

Researches are being conducted on the long-term consequences of being overweight. Researchers are trying to find the exact cause of the risk of mortality associated with obesity or being overweight. At present the general viewpoint is that being overweight increases the risk of a heart attack. However, recent researches suggest that a slightly overweight person does not have the risk of a heart attack in the short-run, although the long-term affects are not clear.

Further studies are being conducted on the increased risk factors of coronary heart disease among moderately overweight people. Reasons of developing diabetes and alteration in the metabolism in overweight persons are also being ascertained.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a feeling of tiredness that even healthy people experience. Overweight and obese people too often complain of fatigue. A study was conducted to find the kind of fatigue that obese people underwent. A group of obese people had volunteered for the study. Their weight, height, ratio of waist to hip circumference, neck size, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 concentrations, and body fat percentage were recorded. Their sleep too was monitored.

The study showed that the body mass index and body fat percentage was responsible for general fatigue among overweight and obese people. Depression was seen associated with different levels and types of fatigue. Emotional fatigue and depression had the highest correlation. It was observed that obesity had a substantial effect on physical fatigue.

Stress

Generally, stress effects all individuals in milder to acute forms. However, obese and overweight people suffer from stress related to their physical condition. They have always been the butt of jokes through childhood for their weight and girth. Society has a negative attitude towards overweight people. Thus, stress has always been building in them since the early part of their life. Some of these experiences have been traumatic for them. Part of their stress has been there because of the threat to their self-esteem, or social isolation in some cases.

How an overweight or obese individual responds to these stressors is difficult to determine, but commonly they may undergo depression, anger, and anxiety. However, the degree can differ in individuals. How a person responds to stress depends on genetics, bringing-up, and experience. People who respond to these stressors positively do not feel the stress. So, if you have been under stressful conditions, it is best to respond positively, by not reacting to stressors.

Depression

Most obese people are not at all happy about their weight and physical condition. This generally leads to depression. What compounds matters is not knowing whether overeating and being overweight lead to depression or does depression cause overeating leading to weight problems. Depression in obese people can be due to psychosocial factors, and genetic factors.

Apart from society’s negative attitude towards obesity, obese and overweight people could get depressed because of factors like negative body image, lack of proper information and education on dealing with the issue, and adverse effect of poor physical health on the mind.

The role of the society in matters relating to obesity is viewed as the most prominent factor leading to depression. This leads to self-rejection. Normally, men do not feel as unhappy about being obese as women. Overweight women get easily depressed for the reason that they feel unattractive, rejected, and undesirable.

I would suggest people, who are serious about their family’s health concerns, to begin by inculcating the right health values in their children. They should encourage their children to take up a wide range of physical activities. Apart from teaching them the values of exercise, parents should ensure that their children eat the right amount of healthy foods. The convenience of fast foods should be done away with, as you would only be inviting trouble for your children. Child obesity is on the rise due to over-indulgence in high on calories and low-in-nutritional-value diets and colas. Children should be taught not to idolize superstars promoting the wrong kind of foods and aerated drinks.

It is important to understand what constitutes a proper diet, and how it helps us keep healthy. The next chapter throws ample light on this crucial aspect of your health.