Obesity and our health

As it becomes clear that the prevalence of obesity is only growing in our society, one must start to wonder what this is doing to the health of today's population. While most people realize that carrying excess weight will not be as attractive as being at a healthy weight, few think about the internal health implications that go on when you aren't at your ideal body weight.

So what health risks will being obese put you at? Let's take a closer look so you can see for yourself just how serious this issue really is.

Obesity And Diabetes

One of the first major health risks that you'll take on if you become obese is the risk for the development of diabetes. Many of those who are overweight are consuming foods high in sugar, which will be putting great strain on the insulin system in the body.

With enough wear and tear, your pancreas may eventually start to malfunction and the body could become resistant to insulin. If this happens, you'll then have developed diabetes and your lifestyle will be forever changed.

Obesity And Heart Health

Another big health issue to be concerned about if you're currently obese is your heart health. Excess weight is going to put you at risk for heart attacks and coronary heart disease, so could prove to be quite fatal.

Those who are carrying so much excess weight very often struggle to get any exercise at all - even simple walking, so the problem continues to increase.
With a sedentary lifestyle and excess weight, you're really at risk for these problems.

Obesity And Other Health Concerns

Some other important health concerns that have been linked to obesity include stroke, kidney failure, as well as an increased risk of some cancers. Excess weight is also going to place great strain on your bones and joints, so could lead to chronic back, knee, or hip pain as well.

Furthermore, due to the lack of exercise many obese people get, this will further reduce their bone density, increasing their risk of osteoporosis or stress fractures.

Obesity And Self-Esteem

Finally, one must not overlook the health risks that obesity carries from a psychological point of view. Those who are very obese very often have incredibly low self-esteem, so will be at a much higher risk for the development of depression.

In addition to that, some will become quite phobic of being in social situations due to embarrassment of their body weight, so could develop social anxiety disorder.

Assess Your Body Weight

So as you can see, there are no shortage of health problems that come with being obese. How do you know if you've crossed that barrier and need to take action?

One good way to assess your current body weight is with the body mass index scale (BMI), which contrasts your height against your weight and places you in categories of underweight, normal weight, overweight, or in one of the three categories of obesity.

Remember though that this measurement can be swayed by high volumes of lean muscle mass, so also take your total body fat percentage into account as well. If you're showing up as obese on the BMI scale and are carrying more than 30% body fat for males or 40% body fat for females, then you know that you are putting your health in jeopardy and need to do something about your current weight status.

These are just a few of the big health risks associated with being overweight. Excess weight is a really serious problem in our society today but a problem that can definitely be controlled with a proper diet and exercise.