Obesity is a condition characterized by an abnormally high level of body fat. Obesity is a health issue that goes beyond appearance. Having high blood pressure raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer.
It’s not uncommon for individuals to struggle with weight loss for a variety of reasons. In most cases, obesity is the consequence of a combination of genetic, physiological, and environmental factors and lifestyle decisions like food and physical activity.
Fortunately, even moderate weight reduction can help alleviate or avoid obesity-related health issues. You can lose weight by eating better, exercising more, making behavioral adjustments, and studying effective eating disorder recovery plans. Additional alternatives for managing obesity include prescription medicines and surgical weight reduction treatments. Let’s go a little further and see what’s going on.
Obesity
Heart disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis are just a few of the conditions exacerbated by being overweight or obese. Some experts believe that these illnesses will be a genuine danger to the health of the American economy for many decades due to the high expenditures of health care connected with them. Furthermore, the U.S. Surgeon General believes that obesity and the illnesses it causes, such as diabetes and heart disease, may be the first time in history that Americans’ average lifespan is decreasing.
There is a substantial psychological burden associated with obesity and its associated conditions, affecting many aspects of psychosocial functioning. Even while most people’s psychosocial functioning improves as they lose weight, a tiny percentage of patients suffer negative psychological symptoms due to weight loss. It is thus critical to evaluate the patient’s psychosocial functioning while considering bariatric surgery because of their obesity. Obesity has the following impacts on your body.
Nervous system
Your nervous system acts as a control center for the rest of your body. It originates in your brain and is responsible for all bodily functions, including your emotions, thoughts, and instinctive reactions to the environment. It also regulates digestion, respiration, and sexual development, among other things (puberty). Obesity raises the chance of a stroke, which occurs when the blood supply to the brain is cut off. Obesity has been shown to harm mental health as well as physical health. It’s important to note that being overweight increases your chances of depression, low self-esteem, and negative self-image.
Respiratory system
Fat in the neck can narrow the airway, making it harder to breathe at night. Sleep apnea is the medical term for this condition. People with sleep apnea can have brief cessation in breathing.
Digestive system
Constipation, diarrhea, gas, and heartburn are common digestive problems that affect almost everyone at some point in their lives. However, if you have these symptoms regularly, your life can be severely impacted. The good news is that making dietary and lifestyle adjustments can improve your gut health. A greater incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease has been linked to obesity (GERD). GERD is a condition in which stomach acid seeps into the esophagus and causes irritation and burning.
Obesity also raises the risk of gallstones. Bile in the gallbladder hardens as it accumulates. This can need surgical intervention. Livers can be damaged and scarred by fat accumulation surrounding the organ. Fat accumulation can lead to liver failure as well.
Cardiovascular and endocrine system
Obesity puts additional strain on the heart, making it work harder to get blood to all the different parts of the body. As a result, you’ll get hypertension or high blood pressure. Stroke is most often caused by high blood pressure.
Obesity can make cells in the body more resistant to the insulin they need to function correctly. Sugar from your blood is carried to cells by insulin, where it is utilized for energy. If you’re insulin-resistant, your cells won’t take up the sugar, which leads to elevated blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes, characterized by high blood sugar, is more likely in those who smoke. Cardiovascular disease, renal disease, stroke, and amputation are all risks associated with type 2 diabetes and vision loss and blindness.
Chronic kidney disease can be caused by a variety of factors, including diabetes and hypertension. Blood arteries that transport blood to the heart can become stiff and narrow due to conditions such as high blood pressure, excessive cholesterol, and diabetes. Atherosclerosis, the medical term for hardened arteries, increases a person’s chance of a heart attack or a stroke.
Obesity has far-reaching consequences on the whole body. Many of these risk factors can be treated or managed if you have obesity and adjust to your food, activity, and way of life. Your chance of acquiring these health problems can be reduced if you lose 5 to 10 percent of your body weight. Consult your physician about your weight loss and healthy living goals.
