The
Detrimental Effects of Obesity on Your Body and Their Symptoms
Obesity is a
health concern that should be addressed right away, because it can cause
various complications, many of which are serious. Below is a list of potential
complications that can arise due to obesity, as well as their symptoms.
Type 2 Diabetes
Most people who
are obese develop type 2 diabetes, a
condition wherein your body has higher levels of blood sugar (glucose) than the
normal, healthy range, due to insulin resistance. Insulin is a substance
produced by your pancreas to help keep your blood sugar levels in the normal
range. But if you have type 2 diabetes, your pancreas can't produce enough
insulin to keep up with your body's demand, resulting in higher blood sugar
levels.
The condition
can cause various symptoms, such as frequent urination, fatigue, recurrent
infections and headaches. If you develop any of these symptoms, have yourself
tested for diabetes right away.
Cardiovascular Disease
Obesity
drastically increases your risk of developing coronary heart disease, which is
the buildup of plaque in your arteries. If the plaque severely limits the flow
of blood to your heart, a heart attack can happen. Telltale symptoms of a heart
attack include chest pain, shortness of breath and palpitations.
Furthermore,
obesity can cause you to develop high blood pressure, which is also known as
hypertension. In this condition, the force of the blood flow is too high,
increasing your heart's workload to the point of artery damage. If you suspect
that you have high blood pressure, have yourself tested. If the results are
higher than 140/90, you most likely have high blood pressure.
Gallstones
Gallstones are
hard, crystal-like deposits created inside your gallbladder. They're typically
made from the excess of one of these three substances: cholesterol, bile or
bilirubin (discarded red blood cells). In the case of obesity, the stones are
usually made from cholesterol, and their sizes can vary, from a grain of sand
to the size of a golf ball.
Gallstones do
not usually cause symptoms if they do not cause a blockage in the pancreatic
duct. However, if stones do get stuck, they cause a very noticeable pain in the
gallbladder, which can last several hours. This occurs usually after a heavy
meal when the gallbladder releases bile into the small intestines. Nausea,
fever, tea-colored urine and yellow skin or eyes are other symptoms you should
watch out for as well.
Cancer
It's been
observed that higher amounts of body fat can contribute to various forms of
cancer. The connection isn't clear, but doctors believe that low-level
inflammation caused by obesity can gradually damage your DNA over time, leading
to cancer. It's also suggested that fat cells produce hormones that lead to
cell proliferation. The following types of cancer have been linked to obesity:
Endometrial cancer: Overweight and obese women are two to
four times more likely to develop endometrial cancer compared to women who
have normal weight.
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Esophageal adenocarcinoma: Obese people are
two times more likely to develop some form of esophageal cancer compared to
normal-weight people. Extreme obesity increases the risk even further by four
times.
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Breast cancer: Postmenopausal obese women have an increased risk of
breast cancer. In addition, a 5-point increase in your BMI can already
increase your risk by 12 percent.
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Gastric cardia cancer: This type of cancer affects the upper
portion of your stomach close to the esophagus. Obesity doubles your risk of
developing cancer in this area.
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Liver cancer: Obese men develop this condition more than women, but the
risk for both genders doubles if their BMI is high.
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Kidney cancer: Among obese people, renal cancer is the most common type
of kidney cancer that can develop. Having a high BMI doubles your risk
compared to normal-weight people.
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Pancreatic cancer: Overweight and obese people are 1.5 times more likely to
develop pancreatic cancer than people with normal weight.
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Colorectal cancer: The risk of developing this type of cancer among obese men
and women is 30 percent more than normal-weight people.
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Osteoarthritis
Pain in the
knees, back and hips are usually common in obese people, because the heavy
weight puts extra pressure on the joints. Depending on the symptoms, the pain
may be mild, or it may be so severe that it can hamper your daily activities.
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