People who are considered extremely obese which is measured at 30+ BMI (body mass index) are at a much higher risk of developing several diseases according to medical professionals today. Studies have been done to show that they have much higher incidence of certain conditions and disorders. In some cases risk factors double or triple. This can even lead to early death in some cases.

Some of the risk factors are greatly increased when a person is obese. They  are at a much higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, heart disease, hypertension, strokes, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, and heart attacks. Studies show that people who are above 35+BMI are twice as likely to develop these problems than someone who is not obese.

High cholesterol levels which are present in most obese people can make the blood vessels of the circulatory system narrow. This narrowing is caused by plaque or fat that is deposited on the vessel walls. This narrowing can result  high blood pressure which is due to extra strain on the heart to do its job.

Blood clots can form around the plaque in the circulatory system and if they break away they can hen travel to the brain and cause a stroke or to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism.  Strokes can result in paralysis or loss of other body functions such as speech. Due to these factors people who are obese are at a much higher risk of developing at least some of the cardiovascular diseases that are listed above.

Obesity is one of the biggest causes of diabetes in adults. The pancreas is unable to make enough insulin to break down either carbohydrates or proteins into simple sugars so that the body can use them for energy. When this happens, the blood sugar levels rise above normal and diabetes develops.

Diabetes is a chronic disease, which has no cure, and can have extremely serious complications including diabetic retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, and kidney disease which may lead to requiring dialysis and kidney failure.

As you can see above, being obese significantly increases the risk of developing several serious diseases or conditions of which some cannot be corrected and have to be treated for the rest of the person’s life. Statistics have shown that in the case of heart disease and type II diabetes that obesity is the leading cause of both of these diseases.

Having all the extra weight carried by the body on a daily basis puts extreme strain on all the vital organs. In addition, those who are obese stand a much higher risk of developing joint problems such as osteoarthritis. Having the extra weight causes extreme strain on the joints especially in the knee, hip and lower back areas.

Studies have shown that people who are obese are twice as likely to have the above diseases. They also are two to three times as likely to die a premature death than someone who is at a healthy weight.

Related information

• Obesity related diseases
• Benefits of a healthy weight
• Weight loss improves longevity
• Beneficial effects of leptin on weight control in obese people
• Diabetic diet plan
• The risks of obesity
• Low cholesterol diet
• Guide to weight loss surgery
• Sleep deprivation and weight gain
• Lower blood pressure with DASH diet
• Causes of childhood obesity
• The conversion of sugar to fat
• Reverse weight gain with insulin control
• Alternative medicine therapies to control blood sugar level
• Health benefits of long-term weight loss in obesity treatment