Obesity represents not only a huge public concern but is the basis of several chronic diseases. People who suffer from obesity are ill as a result of interactions with the environment, lifestyle habits, heredity, as well as their unique food and exercise habits.
Based on the estimates, there are over 800 million people obese worldwide. By far, this figure was 670 million adults, with at least 120 million children and adolescents. However, obesity statistics are on the incline worldwide. The projected increase in the number of adults and children overweight or obese would be 167 million more than those who would be less healthy, as indicated by the WHO by 2025.
The curve of the ICMR-INDIAB study shows that the obesity prevalence in India goes from 11.8% to 31.3% and from 16.9% to 36.3%. Seventeen percent of all people, including children and adolescents, are within the obesity category. Worldwide health spending is overpowered by obesity-related costs of nearly $700 billion a year. With all this data, it goes to show how serious obesity is and its effects on both a global and national scale.
The only way to deal with this condition is to be aware of the obesity-related health problems and their effects on your health. With awareness, it is possible to treat obesity, reduce your risk, and even treat the underlying health conditions that are caused by obesity. That said, let’s explore the various health risks of obesity and how you can prevent or manage them.
Obesity leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, which can result in a myocardial infarction or stroke. These consequences can be lethal if you don’t monitor your risk of cardiovascular diseases and manage your condition in a timely manner. Obesity leads to high risks like hypertension, stroke, and coronary heart disease. In fact, according to the World Health Organisation, one out of five deaths occurs due to such diseases in India, and that too mostly in the young population. Those who are obese are fifty percent more likely to get heart disease than those who are of normal weight.
Being overweight increases your potential to contribute to high sugar blood levels since the body tends to develop resistance to insulin which results in type 2 diabetes. Obesity is one of the reasons for emerging type 2 diabetes in contrast to people with an ideal weight. This means obesity can both cause type 2 diabetes and also be caused by type 2 diabetes. This is evidence that a healthy body weight is the first step towards, in the lowering and managing your risk of type 2 diabetes. It should also be noted that type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune condition can also increase your risk of obesity; however, obesity is not causally related to type 1 diabetes.
People with obesity are at a higher risk of joint problems and bone disorders. Conditions like osteoarthritis, which is a destructive bone disorder that affects joints are common among people who suffer from obesity. The increased risk of joint and bone disorders is due to the person being overweight, which leads to an increase in the pressure on the joints. Scientists suggest that knees and hips, the joints that receive the forces of body weight, are at the highest risk for OA.
One of the crucial dangers of obesity is cancer. People with obesity who consume a high-fat diet can experience an increased risk of some types of cancers like endometrial, breast, and colon cancer. The increase in cancer risk may include changes in hormone metabolism and inflammation of different body parts caused by obesity. The condition increases your chances of cancer-causing deaths and even has the potential to impact the selection of cancer treatment options. It is estimated that approximately 4–8% of all cancer occurrences are related to obesity.
Health risks of obesity include sleep apnea. It is a dangerous disorder where breathing regularly stops and begins during sleep; it results in poor sleep quality and increased drowsiness throughout the day. It can be caused by obesity. Due to fat deposition in the upper respiratory tract, the airway is restricted which causes hypoxic and apneic episodes that can result in sleep apnea. The body's tissues and blood vessels receive less oxygen as a result of these events. Sleep apnea and breathing problems can have a significant impact on your health and well-being and require appropriate medical attention to treat the issues.
Health complications of obesity also include metabolic syndrome which is characterized by increased blood pressure, elevated blood sugar levels, increased body fat around the waist, and very high cholesterol. People with metabolic syndrome mostly have additional health issues and are at an increased risk of getting a stroke, heart disease, or diabetes. Therefore it is essential to manage their condition to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes.
A critical point in managing or preventing obesity is adapting to the right diet. Ideally, the right diet contains fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein, making it easy to reduce body weight and support health in general. This is where nutritional balance comes into play; enough intake of necessary vitamins and minerals while calorie consumption gets controlled. These dietary changes and following a healthy diet regularly have the potential to help you manage obesity and reduce your risk of underlying health conditions.
Regular exercise is very important for every individual, regardless of whether they are overweight or not. Daily physical activities can include cycling and walking for at least half an hour. Besides improving mood, cardiovascular health, and general energy levels, exercise also aids with weight control. With regular exercise, you can even reduce your risk of several types of cancer.
Effective weight management is mainly behavioral and usually requires drastic changes. This includes constant monitoring of food intake and involvement in regular physical activities. This should be coupled with counseling and support from lifestyle support groups to encourage long-term adherence to healthy habits. Behavioral therapy can assist a person in recognizing overeating triggers, controlling craving triggers, and making significant lifestyle adjustments.
Medical treatment is required when there is no change after adopting a healthy lifestyle or when it does not suffice to maintain an adequate body weight. Pharmacotherapy can include medicines to suppress appetite or decrease fat absorption. Bariatric surgery is indicated for individuals with severe obesity. These interventions commonly apply to people with a BMI of over 30 or those suffering from diseases related to obesity. Medical treatment is often considered a last resort for obesity treatment as lifestyle management and dietary changes are essential for improving your overall health and well-being.
Obesity can be prevented and managed with an intensive strategy, including diet, exercise, and behavior change. First, you must realize the risks associated with obesity, which are the critical steps to take proactive control in managing your health. The case of obesity must be followed with appropriate treatment, and healthcare professionals should be consulted from time to time.
To learn more about the health risks of obesity, check out MASSH. We offer preventative and holistic medical care for patients suffering from obesity. Our functional medical care focuses on lifestyle and dietary management along with medical treatment to offer holistic healthcare management and mitigation of underlying health risks. Check out our website or visit us today to consult our specialists.
