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Overweight
and Obesity: Health Consequences |
Overweight and Obesity: Health
Consequences
The primary concern of overweight and
obesity is one of health and not appearance.
PREMATURE DEATH
 | An estimated 300,000 deaths per year may be
attributable to obesity. |
| The risk of death rises with increasing
weight. |
| Even moderate weight excess (10 to 20
pounds for a person of average height) increases the risk of death,
particularly among adults aged 30 to 64 years. |
| Individuals who are obese (BMI > 30)* have
a 50 to 100% increased risk of premature death from all causes,
compared to individuals with a healthy weight. |
HEART DISEASE
| The incidence of heart disease (heart
attack, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina or
chest pain, and abnormal heart rhythm) is increased in persons who
are overweight or obese (BMI > 25).* |
| High blood pressure is twice as common in
adults who are obese than in those who are at a healthy weight.
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| Obesity is associated with elevated
triglycerides (blood fat) and decreased HDL cholesterol ("good
cholesterol"). |
DIABETES
| A weight gain of 11 to 18 pounds increases
a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes to twice that of
individuals who have not gained weight. |
| Over 80% of people with diabetes are
overweight or obese. |
CANCER
| Overweight and obesity are associated with
an increased risk for some types of cancer including endometrial
(cancer of the lining of the uterus), colon, gall bladder, prostate,
kidney, and postmenopausal breast cancer. |
| Women gaining more than 20 pounds from age
18 to midlife double their risk of postmenopausal breast cancer,
compared to women whose weight remains stable. |
BREATHING PROBLEMS
| Sleep apnea (interrupted breathing while
sleeping) is more common in obese persons. |
| Obesity is associated with a higher
prevalence of asthma. |
ARTHRITIS
| For every 2-pound increase in weight, the
risk of developing arthritis is increased by 9 to 13%. |
| Symptoms of arthritis can improve with
weight loss. |
REPRODUCTIVE COMPLICATIONS
| Complications of pregnancy
 | Obesity during pregnancy is associated
with increased risk of death in both the baby and the mother and
increases the risk of maternal high blood pressure by 10 times.
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| In addition to many other
complications, women who are obese during pregnancy are more
likely to have gestational diabetes and problems with labor and
delivery.
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| Infants born to women who are obese
during pregnancy are more likely to be high birthweight and,
therefore, may face a higher rate of Cesarean section delivery
and low blood sugar (which can be associated with brain damage
and seizures). |
| Obesity during pregnancy is associated
with an increased risk of birth defects, particularly neural
tube defects, such as spina bifida. |
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| Obesity in premenopausal women is
associated with irregular menstrual cycles and infertility.
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ADDITIONAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES
| Overweight and obesity are associated with
increased risks of gall bladder disease, incontinence, increased
surgical risk, and depression. |
| Obesity can affect the quality of life
through limited mobility and decreased physical endurance as well as
through social, academic, and job discrimination. |
CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
| Risk factors for heart disease, such as
high cholesterol and high blood pressure, occur with increased
frequency in overweight children and adolescents compared to those
with a healthy weight. |
| Type 2 diabetes, previously considered an
adult disease, has increased dramatically in children and
adolescents. Overweight and obesity are closely linked to type 2
diabetes. |
| Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of
becoming overweight or obese adults. This increases to 80% if one or
more parent is overweight or obese. |
| The most immediate consequence of
overweight, as perceived by children themselves, is social
discrimination. |
BENEFITS OF WEIGHT LOSS
| Weight loss, as modest as 5 to 15% of total
body weight in a person who is overweight or obese, reduces the risk
factors for some diseases, particularly heart disease. |
| Weight loss can result in lower blood
pressure, lower blood sugar, and improved cholesterol levels.
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| A person with a Body Mass Index (BMI) above
the healthy weight range* may benefit from weight loss, especially
if he or she has other health risk factors, such as high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, a sedentary
lifestyle, and a personal and/or family history of heart disease.
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Therapeutic
Dosage
