Obesity-related health conditions are conditions that, whether alone or in combination, can significantly reduce your life expectancy.
Click to expand or contract on each condition to learn how being obese interacts with it, often making it more serious, even life-threatening.
Obese individuals develop resistance to insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels. Over time, the resulting high blood sugar can cause serious damage to the body.
Excess body weight strains the ability of the heart to function properly. The resulting hypertension (high blood pressure) can result in strokes, as well as inflict significant heart and kidney damage.
Obese individuals have a greater tendency toward high cholesterol or other fats in the bloodstream that can be detrimental to one's health. Osteoarthritis of Weight-Bearing Joints
The additional weight placed on joints, particularly knees and hips, results in rapid wear and tear, along with pain caused by inflammation. Similarly, bones and muscles of the back are constantly strained, resulting in disk problems, pain, and decreased mobility.
Fat deposits in the tongue and neck can cause intermittent obstruction of the air passage. Because the obstruction is increased when sleeping on your back, you may find yourself waking frequently to reposition yourself. The resulting loss of sleep often results in daytime drowsiness and headaches.
Obese patients have a higher chance of developing asthma.
Acid belongs in the stomach and seldom causes any problem when it stays there. When acid escapes into the esophagus through a weak or overloaded valve at the top of the stomach, the result is called gastroesophageal reflux, and "heartburn" and acid indigestion are common symptoms. Approximately 10-15% of patients with even mild sporadic symptoms of heartburn will develop a condition called Barrett’s esophagus, which is a pre-malignant change in the lining membrane of the esophagus, a cause of esophageal cancer. For more information on Heartburn, its causes, and possible cures, visit www.heartburnhelp.com.
Seriously overweight persons face constant challenges to their emotions: repeated failure with dieting, disapproval from family and friends, sneers, and remarks from strangers. They often experience discrimination at work, cannot fit comfortably in theatre seats, or ride in a bus or plane.
The inability or diminished ability to produce offspring.
A large, heavy abdomen and relaxation of the pelvic muscles, especially associated with the effects of childbirth, may cause the valve on the urinary bladder to be weakened, leading to leakage of urine with coughing, sneezing, or laughing.
Morbidly obese individuals often experience disruptions of the menstrual cycle, including interruption of the menstrual cycle, abnormal menstrual flow, and increased pain associated with the menstrual cycle.
This is only a partial list of some of the more common health conditions. Your doctor can provide you with a more detailed and complete list. As part of BMI Surgery’s weight loss program through surgical options for obesity, these medical conditions may be reduced or even eliminated.