The prevalence of obesity in the United States is more than 40%. Being obese or overweight is usually defined as having excessive or abnormal fat accumulation that can impair your health. The BMI, or Body Mass Index, is one of the most common ways to classify obesity in adults.
Adults with a BMI more than 25 are typically classified as overweight, and people with a BMI greater than 30 may be classified as obese. However, this varies from person to person.
A rise in a person’s BMI poses major health risks that can sometimes be fatal. Let’s look at how obesity can lead to other chronic diseases.
Heart stroke and disease
As you gain more weight and fat, you’re more prone to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels. Both of these conditions are a major cause of heart diseases. High levels of cholesterol can build up in the arteries and form plaque. This puts pressure on the heart to push more blood through your body.
Type 2 diabetes
There’s a high correlation between type 2 diabetes and obesity. People who have diabetes often also struggle with obesity. If you’re obese, you’re at a greater risk for diabetes as there’s a high level of glucose (sugar) circulating in your bloodstream.
The pancreas is responsible for managing glucose levels. It creates insulin, a hormone that removes glucose from your blood. Insulin helps transport glucose to the muscles so that it’s used for energy.
When a person has diabetes, their body may resist letting the insulin move sugar in the cells. Consequently, the excess glucose remains in the blood, and the sugar level rises.
Cancer
Obesity can put you at risk of cancer. Colon cancer, breast cancer (after menopause), endometrium cancer, kidney cancer, and esophagus cancer are linked with obesity.
Osteoarthritis
This is a common condition that affects your joints, including the knee, back, and hip joints. When you gain extra pounds, extra pressure is exerted on your joints and the cartilage may wear off. This makes you more vulnerable to osteoarthritis.
If you or someone you know is dealing with obesity and related conditions, you must get in touch with a professional doctor for chronic care and expert consultation. At FastDocNow, we offer online medical services and online lab testing services for people who want to avoid the hassle of visiting a crowded clinic for every medical consultation.
Our clinic also offers online prescription refills, in-home lab testing, and much more. Contact us today to learn more about our virtual health services.