The Risks of Being Overweight

[Missy]

The Risks of Being Overweight
By Missy Wagner

How do you know if you are overweight? You can always use those famous weight-for-height charts you see plastered everywhere all over the internet and in most health clubs. Another way is to measure your waist. For a woman, it is usually if your waist measures more than 35 inches, or for a man more than 40 inches, that you would be more likely to develop heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain types of cancers.

Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes 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, than people who are not overweight. Very high blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats) can also lead to heart disease and often are linked to being overweight. Being overweight also contributes to angina (chest pain caused by decreased oxygen to the heart) and sudden death from heart disease or stroke without any signs or symptoms.

The good news is that losing a small amount of weight can reduce your chances of developing heart disease or a stroke. Reducing your weight by 10 percent can decrease your chance of developing heart disease by improving how your heart works, blood pressure, and levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides.

Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes) is the most common type of diabetes in the United States. Type 2 diabetes reduces your body's ability to control your blood sugar. It is a major cause of early death, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and blindness. Overweight people are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as people who are not overweight. You can reduce your risk of developing this type of diabetes by losing weight and by increasing your physical activity.

If you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight and becoming more physically active can help control your blood sugar levels. If you use medicine to control your blood sugar, weight loss and physical activity may make it possible for your doctor to decrease the amount of medication you need. I have personal experience in dealing with someone with diabetes in which they had to give themselves a needle everyday, my grandmother. She was like a second mother to me, a best friend. On August 20, 1997 I had to sit there in the hospital room and watch my grandma pass away before me. It was the most painful experience in my life to lose her.

Several types of cancer 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. For some types of cancer, such as colon or breast, it is not clear whether the increased risk is due to the extra weight or to a high-fat and high-calorie diet. Again, I relate to a personal experience with cancer, because my great grandmother passed away from breast cancer and my grandma (dads side) that is still with us, is battling cancer as well.

Some other health problems that an overweight person can encounter is sleep apnea, which can cause a person to stop breathing for a short amount of time during sleep and to snore heavily. My friend Karl suffers from sleep apnea. We have had him over here a few times and he is so loud that we can even hear him through the closed door in our bedroom. He is currently on a weight loss program as well, and was well over 400 pounds when he started. There is also osteoarthritis, which is a joint disorder that usually affects the joints in your knees, hips and lower back. Another health issue is gout. Gout is a joint disease as well caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. Gallbladder disease and gallstones are more common to those who are overweight.

The solution?? Losing even 5-10% of your body weight can improve all your chances of getting any of these health problems listed above. The key is to eat healthy and get your body moving. Make sure you include lots of water and protein in your diet, and get lots of sleep at night as well.

**Information gather from the internet