Obesity - The Dangers You Should Be Aware Of
While people do not technically die of obesity, somewhere between 100,000 to 400,000 Americans die from the diseases that come with it each year. Even at the conservative estimates, it is still a huge death toll; much higher than other causes of death which get a lot more press attention.
Remember that the heart must pump blood 24 hours a day to supply and move this extra weight, and it puts a big strain on it to do so. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, and those with a BMI of 25 or greater have at least twice the risk of dying from it.
As over 80% of people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes are also overweight, there is a definite link between obesity and diabetes. Furthermore, it appears that being overweight increases the risk of some types of cancers, such as that of the kidneys and colon.
Those are just a few of the fatal diseases to have been directly linked to being obese. Diseases which tend not to be life threatening, but affect quality of life, such as Osteoarthritis, are also a much greater risk for those who are overweight.
Those who are overweight need to need to do something about it if they are serious about their health. While there is a ton of information out there, it is advisable to check with a physician and use some common sense.
The majority of the information you can find on the Internet is of great value, but there is also a significant portion which is put out for the sole purpose of selling weight loss products. If something sounds too good to be true, then it is probably best to avoid it. Unfortunately, there are no quick, easy fixes.
By first being aware of the dangers of obesity, people can hopefully be motivated to lose weight. If you are concerned about your own weight, then you should check your BMI today, and start taking immediate action if necessary.
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Tags: Disease, Health, health risks, illness, lose weight, obesity, overweight, weight loss