Top 10 illnesses associated with obesity

Perhaps you’re not one of those die-hard fitness enthusiasts or health nuts who are so into weight loss and exercise and eating healthy foods all the time. Perhaps you think that diets are just a waste of time, money and willpower. Or maybe you consider yourself too busy to even squeeze in a few hours per week for exercise.

If you’re one such person, then you’re definitely missing the point of weight management and exercise. The combination of weight loss programs and increased physical activity are not merely for the sake of getting the body shape you want—it’s more about keeping yourself fit, healthy, and free from serious and life-threatening diseases.

Obesity is not something you want to avoid for just for the purpose of getting a slimmer, sexier you. Diets and exercise programs work together to keep your body in tiptop shape, helping you do more and be more. Here are some of the most common diseases that are associated with obesity:

  1. Osteoarthritis: overweight people experience symptoms of this disease earlier because too much body weight wears out our joint cartilages.
  2. Some types of cancer (eg cancers linked to the reproductive system): the overproduction of hormones has been known to induce cancer in certain people, and excessive body weight triggers increased hormonal activity.
  3. Cardiovascular diseases: too much fat and bad cholesterol in the body eventually cause blockages in our heart and blood vessels.
  4. Diabetes: obesity is directly linked with developing diabetes because the body becomes more resistant to insulin.
  5. Heart enlargement: fatty deposits along the blood vessels make circulation more inefficient, so the heart muscles work harder to pump blood to all parts of the body. This causes enlargement of the heart.
  6. Stroke: insufficient blood supply to the brain can cause strokes, and overweight people are more likely to have less efficient circulation than people with normal weight.
  7. Heartburn: also known as gastro-esophageal reflux, this is very common among overweight individuals. It is characterized by the backflow of stomach juices to the esophagus, which causes a burning sensation.
  8. Depression: depression is rather common among obese people because of their low self-esteem. They might find it hard to control their eating habits and face the challenge of weight loss, causing serious emotional disturbance.
  9. Fatty liver disease: an irreversible condition that is caused by the accumulation of fat deposits in the liver.
  10. Gout: the accumulation of too much uric acid in the joints is worsened by the excess fat that are also stored in different parts of the body.