Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many life-threatening conditions,
including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure,
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and breast, colon, endometrial, and kidney cancer.
An international study of disease related to BMI in 195 countries found an increased
risk of 20 different health outcomes, but more than two-thirds of deaths related to
high BMI were due to cardiovascular disease, followed in frequency by diabetes.
Excess adiposity also increases the risk of gout, gallbladder disease, and places
greater stress on the back, hips, and knees, which may cause or aggravate osteoarthritis
of the knees and hips. Obesity is also associated with heartburn, shortness
of breath, sleep apnea, sexual dysfunction, and depression. A Johns Hopkins report on nutrition and weight control pointed out that overweight and obesity can, and I would say frequently, leads to mental anguish as a result of poor body image, social
isolation, or being the victim of prejudicial social discrimination.
The U.S. has a higher proportion of obese people than Canada, any country in Europe,
or in East Asia and a relatively low life expectancy compared to other countries
in these regions. In addition to an early death, being severely obese is associated
with about 19 years of living with poor health. Studies estimate that severe
obesity shortens life by five to 20 years, with the greatest number of years of life lost
when obesity occurs at a young age. A longer duration of overall and abdominal
obesity is associated with the progression of subclinical coronary heart disease and
is a predictor of increased all-cause mortality in men and women. One study
found that compared to normal-weight adults, obese adults had at least a 20% higher
risk of dying from all causes or from cardiovascular diseases.
This blog presents opinions and ideas and is intended to provide helpful general information. I am not engaged in rendering advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas, procedures and suggestions in that are presented are not in any way a substitute for the advice and care of the reader’s own physician or other medical professional based on the reader’s own individual conditions, symptoms or concerns. If the reader needs personal medical, health, dietary, exercise or other assistance or advice the reader should consult a physician and/or other qualified health professionals. The author specifically disclaims all responsibility for any injury, damage or loss that the reader may incur as a direct or indirect consequence of following any directions or suggestions given in this blog or participating in any programs described in this blog or in the book, The Building Blocks of Health––How to Optimize Your Health with a Lifestyle Checklist (available in print or downloaded at Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble and elsewhere). Copyright 2021 by J. Joseph Speidel.
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