Increased Health Risk of Premature Death According to CDC researchers, an estimated 300,000 American deaths a year are related to obesity, but see note, below. The risk of premature death rises with increasing weight. Even moderate weight gain (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 greater than 30) have a 50 to 100 percent increased risk of premature death from all causes, compared to individuals with a healthy weight.

Increased Health Risk of Heart Disease The risk of heart attack, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina or chest pain is increased in persons who are overweight or obese. High blood pressure is twice as common in adults who are obese than in those who are at a healthy weight. Obesity is associated with high triglycerides and decreased HDL cholesterol.

Increased Health Risk of Stroke Atherosclerosis, or narrowing of the arteries, which may lead to the formation of an arterial blood clot, is an important pre-condition of many strokes. Atherosclerosis is accelerated by high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol and lack of exercise. Obesity, especially morbid obesity is frequently associated with a high-fat diet, raised blood pressure and lack of exercise. Thus obesity is now considered an important secondary risk factor for strokes.

Increased High Blood Pressure This may then also lead to:

Headaches Ear noise & buzzing Tiredness Shortness of breath Excessive sweating Confusion Vision changes Nose bleeds Blood in urine Kidney damage / failure Strokes Increased Health Risk of Type 2 Diabetes A weight increase of 11-18 pounds raises a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes to twice that of individuals who have not gained weight. Over 80 percent of people with diabetes are overweight or obese. This may account for the newly invented word, "diabesity"®, which signifies the close association between obesity and diabetes.

Increased Health Risk of Cancers Obesity is 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 post-menopausal breast cancer. Women gaining more than 20 pounds from age 18 to midlife double their risk of post-menopausal breast cancer, compared to women whose weight remains stable.

Increased risk of Erectile Dysfunction

This stressful disorder is often linked to Insulin Resistance, an imbalance in blood glucose and insulin levels associated with excess weight and obesity. Being overweight can place extra strain on the cardiovascular system and disrupt the delicate balance required to achieve an erection and, therefore, cause ED.

Excess insulin created by Insulin Resistance is implicated in ED because it damages the endothelium of cardiovascular vessels. The endothelium is the layer on the inside of the vessel which secretes chemical mediators that instruct the vessel to contract or relax. To achieve an erection, a release of nitric oxide from the endothelium creates vascular dilation, which allows vessels to fill with blood. This influx of blood is necessary to achieve an erection. Any decrease in nitric oxide supply to the penis caused by the insulin-damaged endothelium lessens or prevents vascular dilation and contributes to erectile dysfunction.

Page 1 of 3 :: First | Last :: Prev | 1 2 3 | Next