Health Risks - ODAOPAAT

Premature Death
Type 2 Diabetes
Heart Disease
Stroke
Hypertension
Gallbladder Disease
Osteoarthritis (degeneration of carilage and bone in joints)
Sleep Apnea
Asthma
Cancer (edometrial, colon, kidney, gallbladder, and postmenopausal breast cancer)
High Blood Cholesterol
Complications of pregnancy
Menstrual irregularities
Hirsutism (presence of excess body and facial hair)
Stress Incontinence (urine leakage caused by weak pelvic-floor muscles)
Increased surgical risk
Psychological disorders such as Depression
Psychological difficulties due to Social Stigmatization

Central or Abdominal Obesity Carries Greater Health Risks
Patients with central or abdominal obesity, characterised by excessive visceral fat around the stomach and abdomen, have a higher risk of weight-related disease. Abdominal obesity is one of the core symptoms of cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance syndrome. In women, central obesity is signalled by a waist circumference of about 35+ inches, while in men the danger waist measurement is 40+ inches. Alternatively, check your waist-hip ratio. Women with a waist-to-hip ratio of more than 0.8 or men with waist-to-hip ratios of more than 1.0 are "apples" and are at increased health risk due to their fat distribution.

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.
**NOTE: In April 2005, A new study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published in JAMA concludes that obesity kills 112,000 Americans each year - significantly fewer than the original CDC study. Obesity experts now seem to state that, while patients with morbid obesity (BMI 40+) or malignant obesity (BMI 50+) remain at a high risk of premature death, regular obesity (BMI 30+) is no more dangerous to health than underweight. Controversy surrounding weight-related disease, comorbidities and premature death seems likely to continue!

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 (blood fats) 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 Health Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mullitus (type 2 diabetes) is the most common type of diabetes in the United States. Type 2 diabetes reduces your body's ability to control your blood sugar. It is a major cause of early death, heart disease, stroke, and blindness. 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. If you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight and becoming more physically active can help control your blood sugar levels. If you use medicine to control your blood sugar, weight loss and physical activity may make it possible for your doctor to decrease the amount of medication you need.

Increased Health Risk of Cancers
Several types of cancer are associated with being overweight. In women, these include cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, kidney, breast and colon. 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. Overweight men are at greater risk for developing cancer of the colon, endometrial (cancer of the lining of the uterus), rectum, and prostate.

Increased Health Risk of Fatty Liver Disease

The main cause of non alcoholic fatty liver disease is insulin resistance, a metabolic disorder in which cells become insensitive to the effect of insulin. One of the most common risk factors for insulin resistance is obesity, especially central abdominal obesity. Studies indicate a correlation between body mass index (BMI) and the degree of liver damage. The higher the BMI the worse the liver disease.

Obesity is a Risk Factor For Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Although obesity is not a direct cause of chronic venous insufficiency, it is an important risk factor. This is because obesity, especially morbid obesity, leads to raised blood pressure, a sedentary lifestyle and musculoskeletal problems (hampering mobility and use of leg muscles), all of which are contributory factors in the development of chronic venous insufficiency. Obese patients also have an increased health risk of other vascular disorders (eg. lower-limb ischemia), caused by inadequate blood flow to the extremities.

Increased Health Risk of Gallbladder Disease
Gallbladder disease and gallstones are more common if you are overweight. Your risk of disease increases as your weight increases. It is not clear how being overweight may cause gallbladder disease. The risk of gallstones is approximately 3 times greater for obese patients than in non-obese people. Indeed, the risk of sympomatic gallstones appears to correlate with a rise in body mass index (BMI). Weight loss itself, particularly rapid weight loss or loss of a large amout of weight, can actually increase your chances of developing gall stones. Modest, slow weight loss of about 1 to 2 pounds a week is less likely to cause gallstones and much more healthy for you.

Increased Health Risk of Breathing Problems (Sleep Apnea)
Obstructive sleep apnea (that is, interrupted breathing during sleeping) is more common in obese persons. Sleep Apnea may cause daytime sleepiness and even heart failure. Obesity is associated with a higher prevalence of asthma and severe bronchitis, as well as obesity hypoventilation syndrome and respiratory insufficiency. Weight loss usually improves sleep apnea.

Obesity and Deep Vein Thrombosis
Risk factors for deep vein thrombosis include prior history of the disease, vascular damage, hypertension and predisposition to blood clotting. Although obesity (BMI 30+) has traditionally been recognised as a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, experts now consider that the evidence supporting this association is inadequate, as much depends on other factors such as history, illness, immobility, and age.

Increased Health Risk of Arthritis
Musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis, are much more prevalent among obese patients, especially patients diagnosed with severe clinical or mobid obesity. Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder that most often affects the joints in your knees, hips, and lower back. Extra weight appears to increase the risk of osteoarthritis by placing extra pressure on these joints and wearing away the cartliage (tissue that cusions the joints) that normally protects them. The risk of osteoarthritis increases with every 2-pound gain in weight. Although weigt loss can decrease stress on the knee, hips, and lower back and my improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Gout

Gout is a joint disease caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid sometimes forms into solid stone or crystal masses that become deposited in the joints. Gout is more common in overweight people and the risk of developing the disorder increases with higher body weights.
Increased Health Risks For Expectant Mother and Baby

Obesity has a strong detrimental effect on the health of both mother and new-born baby, both during and after pregnancy. Obesity while pregnant is associated with a higher risk of death in both the baby and the mother. It also raises the risk of high blood pressure in the Mom, by 10 times. Obesity during pregnancy is also associated with an increased risk of birth defects, such as spina bifida. Obesity-related health problems occurring after childbirth include higher risk of wound and endometrial infection, endometritis and urinary tract infection.

Health Improvements After Weight Reduction
The good news is that losing a small amount of weight can reduce your chances of developing heart disease or a stroke. Reducing your weight by 10 percent can decrease your chance of developing heart disease by improving how your heart works, blood pressure, and levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides. Studies show that you can improve your health by losing as little as 10 to 20 pounds.

Psychological and Social Effects of Obesity
Emotional suffering may be one of the most painful parts of obesity. American society emphasizes physical appearance and often equates attractiveness with slimness, especially for women. Such messages make overweight people feel unattractive.

Attitude to Obesity and Severe Overweight
One obesity study asked severely obese persons to take a forced-choice questionnaire. That means, they had to make a choice between being at their present weight or having some other given illness. The results were astounding. Although there were some variations, every obese person said that they would rather be blind or have one leg amputated than be at their present heavy weight. Most interestingly, every person would rather be a poor thin person than be a morbidly obese millionaire.

Physicians Believe Obesity Is America's Most Severe Health Issue

SAN MATEO, Calif., April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Epocrates, Inc. today announced the results of the "2007 Obesity Report," a nationwide survey of physicians on public health issues and the increasing rate of obesity in America. The results exposed that physicians -- often the "front line" of health -- consider obesity to be the single largest public health crisis in the United States, and that there are varying opinions as to who is primarily responsible and what can be done to address the issue.
Although Americans have always tried to win the "battle of the bulge," the obesity problem has recently become one of our country's most talked-about health issues. Today, 52 percent of physicians believe that more than half of their patients are overweight. According to nearly 90 percent of physicians, this percentage has increased in the past five years despite greater attention on the issue. Physicians are striving to make a difference, however more than 40 percent of the respondents stated that they are not addressing the subject with all of their patients.

"This survey shows how pervasive obesity is across the nation, and how crucial it is for physicians to educate their patients about its risks," said Dr. Liviu Klein, M.D., M.S., the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, Northwestern University Hospital. "Studies show that excess weight puts undue strain on vital organs and can lead to a multitude of serious health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes. Education around the negative health effects of smoking has dramatically decreased adult use of tobacco in the last 20 years, and we hope awareness around the obesity-related co-morbidity risks will have a similar and more immediate impact."
Researchers and patients may look to genetics to blame for obesity, but physicians believe that lack of exercise and oversized food portions are the greatest contributors to the problem. Consequently, physicians largely believe that individuals and the food industry are mostly responsible for the issue. Despite not contributing to the obesity epidemic, physicians state that the government and physicians must play a role in reducing America's growing waistline.
Physicians rank education and school restrictions on soda and fast food among initiatives that will have the greatest impact on slimming the population, recognizing that obesity in children most often leads to adult obesity. Of the other recent initiatives to help reduce obesity, most physicians see little impact from the new over-the-counter obesity drug alli(TM) or regulations of trans fats in restaurants.

Additional survey highlights: -- Surprisingly, 88 percent of physicians believe that more than 30 percent of their peers are clinically overweight, even when each understands the long and short term consequences. -- Ninety-three percent of physicians rank Weight Watchers(R) as the best weight loss program, followed by The South Beach Diet(TM). -- Other health initiatives physicians believe will have a significant impact on reducing obesity include higher health premiums for overweight adults (58 percent), TV advertisements about better nutrition (45 percent), portion control (44 percent) and banning trans fats in all food (30 percent). -- Only 13 percent of physicians think genetics is the biggest contributor to obesity. -- While physicians were able to identify childhood obesity health risks such as onset of type 2 diabetes, fewer than half of physicians recognized other key risks such as higher incidence of liver disease and asthma. -- Physicians consider obesity, chronic disease (93 percent) and smoking (90 percent) as the top three public health issues in the U.S.