Health Issues Relating To Obesity

Heart Disease and Stroke A stroke occurs when there is a shortage of blood getting to the brain cells – this actions a permenant failure of the brain cells. When blood flow to the brain is disrupted or blocked completely, oxygen and nutrients cannot get to the brain cells where they are required for the normal function of the cells. The result of this happening is abnormal brain function.

Heart disease and stroke are the principal causes of death for both men and women in the Western World. Overweight and obese people are more likely to have high blood pressure, which is one of the major factors for heart disease and stroke. Very high blood levels of cholesterol and blood fats can also lead to heart disease and often are linked to obesity. Being overweight also contributes to angina and sudden death from heart attacks. Losing only a small amount of weight can reduce the risk of heart disease or a stroke happening to you. Reducing your weight by 10 percent can decrease your risk of developing heart disease by improving how your heart works, reducing blood pressure, and reducing the levels of blood cholesterol.

Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is the most wide spread diabetes in the Western World. Type 2 diabetes limits your body's ability to control blood sugar levels. It is a cause of early death, heart disease, kidney disease; stroke, and blindness, overweight people are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as people who are not overweight. You can reduce your risk by losing weight and increasing your physical activity levels, which in turn will help control your blood sugar levels, and so your medication could be decreased.

Cancer If a woman is overweight or obese she is a t greater risk of developing cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast, and colon. Overweight men are at greater risk of developing cancer of the colon, rectum, and prostate. It is not clear whether the increased risk is due to the extra weight or to a high-fat and high-calorie diet.

Sleep Apnoea Sleep apnoea is a condition that is closely associated with being overweight. The apnoea can cause a person to stop breathing for short periods during sleep and to snore heavily. As a further consequence, there may be daytime sleepiness and in extreme cases the onset of symptoms of heart failure. The risk for sleep apnoea increases with higher body weights. Yet again, weight loss ultimately reverses this risk.

Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a joint disorder that most often affects the knees, hips and lower back. Extra weight appears to increase the risk of osteoarthritis by placing extra pressure on the joints and wears away the cartilage that normally cushions them. Weight loss can decrease stress on the knees, hips, and lower back and may improve osteoarthritis.

Health Issues relating to obesity can effect children too