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Health Risks of Being Overweight
Being overweight increases your risks of many health problems,
including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol
levels, certain types of cancer, gout, and gallbladder disease. Being
overweight can also cause problems such as sleep apnea (interrupted
breathing during sleep) and osteoarthritis. The more overweight you are,
the more likely you are to have health problems. Weight loss can reduce
your risks. Studies show that you can improve your health by losing as
little as 10 to 20 pounds.
Body Mass Index:
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a calculation that uses both height and weight
to yield a number that correlates with an estimate of a person's body
fatness. BMI standards were established using information on both illness
and death. This means we can now assess a person's health risk based on
that person's BMI. A Body Mass Index less than 18.5 is considered
underweight. A Healthy weight is a BMI of 18.5 to 24.9. Overweight is
25-29.9. Obese is a BMI of 30-39.9 and extremely obese people have a BMI
of 40 or greater. If you have a BMI greater than 27, you are much more
likely to develop or have hypertension, diabetes and elevated cholesterol
levels in addition to other health risks. (See
table 1)
Waist Measurement:
It’s not just how much weight you carry that is important; it also
matters where your body stores extra fat. Your shape is inherited from
your parents just like the color of your eyes or hair.
"Apple-shaped" people who have a potbelly appear to have higher
health risks than "pear-shaped" people with heavy hips and
thighs. If you are a female and your waist measures more than 35 inches,
or if you are a man and your waist measures more than 40 inches, you are
more likely to develop heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and
certain cancers.
The Risks Of Being Overweight:
Heart Disease and Stroke:
Heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of death and disability
for both men and women in the United States. Overweight people are more
likely to have high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease
and stroke. High levels of cholesterol and triglycerides also lead to
heart disease and stroke, and are linked to being overweight. Carrying
extra weight increase the workload on the heart, contributing to angina
and sudden death from heart disease or stroke. Losing a small amount of
weight can decrease your chances of developing heart disease by improving
how your heart works, improving blood pressure, decreasing levels of blood
cholesterol and fats in your blood stream.
Diabetes:
Non-insulin diabetes mellitus (type II diabetes) is the most common
type of diabetes in the United States. Type II diabetes reduces your body’s
ability to control your blood sugar levels. Diabetes often leads to heart
disease, kidney disease, stroke, blindness or loss of lower extremities.
Overweight people are twice as likely to develop diabetes as people who
are not overweight. If you have diabetes, losing weight and becoming more
physically active can help control your blood sugar levels and may make it
possible for your doctor to decrease some of your medications.
Hypertension:
One in four adults have hypertension. It order to control hypertension,
it is important to decrease sodium intake, decrease calorie and fat
intake, decrease alcohol consumption, increase daily exercise and activity
levels and maintain a healthy weight.
Abnormal Lipid Levels:
Approximately 50 % of American adults have blood cholesterol levels of
200 mg/dl or higher. Strong evidence supports lowering cholesterol levels
to prevent coronary heart disease and stroke. The most successful method
of lowering lipid levels is by improving the diet, increasing daily
exercise, weight loss and medications if necessary.
Cancer:
Several type of cancers are associated with being overweight. In women,
these include cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast and
colon. Overweight men are at greater risk for developing cancer of the
colon, rectum, and prostate.
Sleep Apnea:
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that is closely associated with
being overweight. Sleep apnea can cause a person to stop breathing for
short periods during sleep and to snore heavily. The risk for sleep apnea
increases with higher body weights. Weight loss usually improves sleep
apnea.
Osteoarthritis:
Extra weight increases the risk of osteoarthritis by placing extra
pressure on the knees, hips and lower back. It also wears away the
cartilage that normally protects these joints.
Gout:
Gout is a joint disease caused by high levels of uric acid in the
blood. Gout is more common in overweight people and the risk increases
with higher body weight.
Gallbladder Disease:
Ball bladder disease and gallstones are more common if your are
overweight. Your risk of disease increases as your weight increases.
Weight loss itself, particularly rapid weight loss can actually increase
your chances of developing gallstones. Modest, slow weight loss of about
1-2 pound a week is less likely to cause gallstones.
Lower Your Risks:
Start By Improving Your Eating Habits:
Whether you are tying to lose weight or maintain your weight, you
should take a look at your eating habits and make improvements. Eat a
variety of foods, increasing whole-grains, fruits and vegetables and
decreasing processed and fatty foods.
Increase Your Physical Activity;
Making physical activity a part of your daily life is important in
controlling weight and lowering your risks for other health problems.
Spend less time doing activities that use little energy like watching
television, playing video games, and sitting at the computer. 20-30
minutes of physical activity does not have to be done all at once, it can
be done at short intervals of 10 minutes here and another 20 minutes
there.
Additional Resources:
The following organizations have information and educational materials
available to the public on health problems associated with being
overweight.
National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Information Center
PO Box 30105
Bethesda, MD 20824-0105
Phone: (301) 251-1222
Fax: (301) 251-1223
E-mail: nhlbiic@dgsys.com
Web: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/nhlbi/nhlbi/html
Weight-Control Information Network
1 Win Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3665
Phone: (301) 984-7378 or 1-800-WIN-8098
Fax: (301) 984-7196
E-mail: win@info.niddk.nih.gov
National Diabetes
Information Clearinghouse
1 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3560
Phone: (301) 654-3327
Fax: (301) 907-8906
E-mail: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Web: niddk.nih.gov/health/diabetes/diabetes.htm
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