Health Implications Of Being Overweight

Being overweight can lead to more possibilities of having several medical disorders. If you weigh more than you should, you are in danger of having the following:

• Increased blood pressure levels

• Hypercholesterolemia (elevated cholesterol levels)

• Joint and knee problems

• Joint replacement surgery

• Gastro-intestinal problems

• Social issues

• Low self-esteem

Being overweight is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases. Losing weight, even if it’s just a few pounds, can help reduce your likelihood of suffering from different diseases as you age. If by now you are suffering from a medical disorder, weight loss can assist you in controlling your health. In some disorders, weight loss can help reduce and even eliminate the need for medication.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, which can lead to permanent disability and death. You can reduce your risk of developing hypertension and hypercholesterolemia if you keep your weight within a healthy range. However, you also need to know where your body stores fat. If you are similar to most males, fat is concentrated in the region of the belly, and a great quantity of fat in that area increases your chances of having cardiac disorders. Regular aerobic exercise is the best way to get rid of abdominal fat. And if your waistline is over 40 inches, you are more at risk of having hypertension. Your body mass index is another important indicator of heart disease risk. Strive to maintain your body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 24.9 for optimal health.

And also, excess weight can place additional force on your joints, particularly your knees, hips, and lower back. Because of this extra pressure, the cartilage, which is the tissue that cushions and protects the joints gradually wears away, causing a form of arthritis known as osteoarthritis. In the long run, the harm done on the joint can be massive that there will be a need to operate on it and change it. This damage is permanent and cannot be reversed.

Tendinitis, or swelling of the tendons, is also widespread among those who are overweight. Tendons, particularly the Achilles tendon that extends from the calf to the heel, could swell and get irritated even just from walking. Losing weight decreases the stress on your joints and tendons and reduces wear and tear. Losing weight can also ease the aching and swelling caused by osteoarthritis.

And, being overweight means the extra fat in the stomach area adds strain in it. This makes gastric acid go up into the esophagus. Loss of weight reduces stomach acid reflux.

Those who are fat tend to have negative impressions of themselves. Low self-esteem can affect aspects of health and behavior such as social adjustment, activity engagement, and goal direction. Getting ridiculed is extremely nasty and it could harshly wound one’s sense of worth.

Those who are obese are aware they are in a predicament. They realize that their bodies are not the size they would like them to be. They recognize as well that they consume more than what is needed.

The trouble is that they might not be well-informed about preventing this tendencies. Food consoles them. They might consider themselves useless since they cannot overcome their weight issues.

On the other hand, they simply might not have the necessary equipment and encouragement. They might be around people who have no problems with their weight and really cannot understand or relate to what they are going through.

These are just a handful ways that being overweight adversely affects a person’s health. What’s great is that more people are getting more conscious with weight issues and its prevention.