Health risk of being overweight and obese

The type of lifestyle we adopt greatly affects our ability to sustain a healthy weight. Statistics indicate that the number of overweight persons has been increasing, which is a call for alarm. Several reasons cause one to be overweight, including genetic factors. However, the main reasons that majority of people are adding their weight include:

• Failure to exercise frequently
• Eating large quantities of snack and meals
• Taking high energy drinks and foods

We should be cautious with what we consume, including our intake of carbs. When we need food to be delivered, we should always use review sites such as BritainReviews to look for reviews of low carb diet plan food stores in UK and only aim to go for the positively reviewed companies. This way, one will get trustworthy companies to deliver a low carb diet. Some of the health risk associated with being overweight and obese include:

Type 2 diabetes

This illness arises when blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is at very high levels. Statistics indicate that out of every 10 people with type 2 diabetes, 8 are obese or overweight. With time, high blood sugar levels cause kidney disease, heart disease, nerve damage, stroke, and other health issues. By engaging in regular exercises, you will help your body maintain the optimum weight and keep type 2 diabetes at bay.

Sleep apnea

This is a disorder where a person briefly stops breathing while asleep. Obese and overweight persons are more susceptible to developing sleep apnea. This is since they have lots of fats stored around their neck, which shrinks the airways. When the airways are small, this results in snoring and also, one finds it hard to breathe at night. By exercising, one can reduce the quantity of fat around their neck, reducing the risk of developing sleep apnea.

Heart disease

Heart disease refers to the various problems that affect the heart. A person with heart disease may suffer from heart failure, heart attack, angina, abnormal heart rhythm and sudden cardiac death. Some of the factors that increase a person risk of heart disease include high levels of blood glucose, abnormal blood fat levels and high blood pressure. Blood fats, also referred to as blood lipids, comprise cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol.

Reducing 5 to 10 {33147b5409313a0ded634718b505006679e18312b2e420697d72a6b9df75b909} of a person’s body weight reduces one’s risk factors of having heart disease. For example, an individual who is 200 pound should aim at losing 10 pounds.

Liver disease

Obesity leaves a person at risk of developing a liver disease referred to as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or fatty liver disease. The disease is a result of the building up of fat in the liver. This excess fat can result in scar tissue growth referred to as cirrhosis, and can also cause liver damage. Fatty liver disease typically presents no symptoms but finally can cause liver failure. The disease can only be managed by exercising, losing weight and avoiding the consumption of alcohol

Certain cancers

Since cancer is not a single illness, the relation between obesity and cancer is not so clear as it is the case with other illnesses such as stroke and heart disease. However, it has been shown that obesity can increase a person vulnerability to particular cancers such as pancreatic, gallbladder, kidneys, colon, breast, prostate cancer, cervix, uterus, ovaries and endometrium.

Gallbladder disease

The function of the gall bladder is to store bile. During digestion, it passes the bile to the small intestines. Bile is responsible for the digestion of fats. Overweight and obese persons are at a greater risk of developing gallstones. Gallstones happen when there is a build-up and hardening of bile in the gallbladder. Obese persons tend to have high amounts of cholesterol in their bile, which could cause gallstones. It can be painful and may need surgical intervention. One way to prevent gallstones is by consuming a diet with high contents of healthy fats and fibre. It will also be helpful to avoid refined grains, including bread, pasta and white rice.

Pregnancy complications

Being obese and overweight leaves one more prone to health problems that can happen during pregnancy. Obese and overweight pregnant women are more vulnerable to:

• Requiring a caesarean section and thus will also need more recovery time after birth.
• Having preeclampsia, high blood pressure in pregnancy can result in serious health difficulties for the mother and the child if not treated.
• Gestational diabetes.

In conclusion, it is always important to live a healthy lifestyle to prevent one from being overweight and obese and thus averting the above-associated health risks.