Obesity is a very dangerous condition, and one that affects tremendous amounts of people not just in this country, but all over the world. Statistics on obesity show that over the past four decades, obesity rates have increased by around 400%. And, to make matters worse, they continue to rise today. This means it is absolutely vital that society as a whole is aware of the dangers associated with obesity, not just in adults but also for children. Hopefully, this will change the destructive course we are on at the minute.
The vast majority of people know that obesity is bad for your health. However, a true understanding of just how unhealthy it is seems to elude them. Professionals offering bariatric surgery in Port Jefferson NY have drawn attention to what the real issues actually are. They hope, in so doing, that people will truly start to take notice.
The Health Risks of Obesity
Interestingly, one of the risks associated with obesity that is often overlook is psychological in nature. Obese children, adolescents and adults alike often have extremely poor mental health. Significant research has shown that the obese have lower rates of self-esteem and this can, at times, become so damaging that they become depressed, develop eating disorders and, sometimes, even become suicidal.
Obesity is not just about how people look, however. The psychological impact is significant, but so is the physical impact. We know that around 300,000 people a year in this country alone die as a direct result of obesity complications. Scientists now believe that some 50% of people who are obese will die younger as a direct result of it.
Most premature deaths are caused by heart attacks. Heart attacks tend to be caused by high blood pressure, which is incredibly common in people who are obese. Additionally, the obese usually have higher LDL cholesterol levels, as well as lower HDL levels. This, again, increases the chance of developing a heart attack.
Type 2 diabetes is also a risk in the obese, as are a number of types of cancer. Just 11 to 18 pounds of extra weight can double the chances of developing type 2 diabetes. The chance of developing breast, kidney, prostate, gallbladder, colon and endometrial cancer is also greatly increased.
These are just some of the many health risks associated with being obese. Unfortunately, if you are obese, the chance of having at least one of these illnesses is incredibly high. And then, there are issues such as chronic venous insufficiency, liver disease, breathing problems, gallbladder disease, arthritis and various other illnesses that you could also develop.
It is important that you avoid becoming obese and that, if you already are, you learn how to lose weight. This is down to changing your lifestyle: eating less and moving more. While bariatric surgery can help you in order to achieve this, you will still have to fully commit to those lifestyle changes if you want to see any permanent results.