Obesity is a rising epidemic in society that has major health implications for the future of an obese individual. As of 2009, the obesity statistics showed only two states remained below a 20% demographic of overweight individuals, and clinical experts are continuing to link various diseases to a life time of obesity and poor diet. While it is no secret that obesity is detrimental to the overall health, few individuals actually recognize the depth of health care issues obesity can cause.
The heart is the number one issue when it comes to obesity. Often, the heart must work harder to compensate for the body’s enhanced size, leading to various vascular and functional disabilities. The harder the heart works, the greater the risk of heart disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, and heart attack. Due to the hypertension caused by obesity, the vascular system will harden and lose the elasticity that is necessary for adequate circulation, and the excessive lipid profile commonly found in the obese individual often makes the vessels more susceptible to blockages, especially in the coronary arteries.
Recently, studies have linked obesity with certain types of cancer. Studies have linked being obese to a 25-30 percent greater chance of developing certain types of cancer, breast cancer being one of major concern for women, and colon cancer being cited as a higher risk for both genders.
Type 2 Diabetes has also been linked conclusively with obesity. Because of the extra strain on the heart, the poor profusion begins to take its toll on other organ systems, specifically the kidneys, liver and pancreas. The liver is responsible for glycogenesis, and the pancreas secretes insulin to balance out the excess glucose in the blood. Forced to compensate for so long, the beta cells responsible for insulin secretion begin to break down and die, resulting in the high blood glucose. The kidneys, the main filter for the body, are strained from trying to compensate for the excess filtration needs, and the filtration system within them deteriorates, leading to kidney failure and other complications.
These are just effects that being obese can have on the body over time. While the cause of a single individual’s obesity can vary from person to person, the negative health effects are generally a constant throughout. Losing weight by undergoing procedures such as lap band, has been shown to greatly reduce the chance of these health issues. For more information, go to www.obesity.org to learn more about the risks.
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