How Serious Are The Risks Of Obesity?

Health Risks Of Obesity

The health problems associated with obesity are numerous.

Obesity is not just a cosmetic problem. It's a health hazard.

Doctors generally agree that the more obese a person is the more likely he or she is to have health problems.

Someone who is 40% overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely as is an average-weight person, this is because obesity has been linked to several serious medical conditions, research has shown that as weight increases to reach the levels referred to as 'overweight' and 'obesity', the risks for the following conditions also increases:

Coronary heart disease
Diabetes
Endometrial cancer
Breast cancer
Colon cancer
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
High Levels Of Triglycerides
Stroke
Liver disease
Gallbladder disease
Sleep apnea (to stop breathing during sleep)
Asthma
Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
Gout
Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

People who are 20% or more overweight can gain significant health benefits from losing weight.

Many obesity experts believe that people who are less than 20% above their healthy weight should still try to lose weight if they have any of the mentioned conditions.

A current medical condition or smoking along with being overweight or obese can further increase the risk of obesity related diseases.

Overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher, obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or higher.

Check your BMI (Body Mass Index) below and see where you stand in regards to your weight.

BMI

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person's weight and height, it is a reliable measurement of body fat for most adult men and women.

BMI does not measure body fat directly, but research has shown that BMI correlates to direct measures of body fat.

BMI is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health risk for diseases that can occur with more body fat.

The higher your BMI, the higher your risk for certain diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, breathing problems, and certain cancers.

Interpretation of BMI:

For adults 18 to 65 years old, BMI is interpreted using standard weight status categories that are the same for all men and women in this age range.

The evaluation of BMI for children is age and sex specific.

The standard weight status categories associated with BMI ranges for adults are shown in the table below:

Below 18.5 - Underweight
18.6-24.9 - Normal
25.0 - 29.9 - Overweight
30.0 and above - Obese

BMI may overestimate body fat for athletes and others who have a muscular build.

BMI may underestimate body fat in older people and other who have lost muscle.

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