Obesity is more than just a weight problem; it’s a health problem.
If you are obese, you are at a higher risk of developing many medical problems. In this video, Bariatric Surgeon Dr. Rob Williams of New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery in Knoxville outlines some of the comorbidities or health problems that come with obesity.
Obesity-Related Comorbidities
There are a lot of comorbidities or problems that are related to obesity. The most common ones that we see are hypertension, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux, arthritis. Indirectly, we see some medical problems too like migraine headaches, infertility, stress incontinence, and even certain types of cancer.
Heart Disease and Stroke
Obesity increases your chances of developing high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. Both of these increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. The good news is, losing even a small amount of weight can reduce your risk. Losing a lot more can significantly cut down your risk of these diseases.
Type 2 Diabetes
This type of diabetes is linked to lifestyle. If you are diabetic, regular physical activity and changing your eating habits can help control your blood sugar level.
In obese individuals who have undergone bariatric surgery, the only long-term effective solution for morbid obesity, most are shown to have significant improvement in their blood sugar level.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a breathing problem that causes a person to snore heavily during sleep and briefly stop breathing. This causes daytime sleepiness and can increase one’s chance of heart disease and stroke.
Osteoarthritis
Too much weight can put pressure on the joints and can wear away the cartilage (the tissue cushioning them). By losing weight, you can reduce the added stress on your knees, hips, and lower back, and may also ease some of the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Cancer
There are certain types of cancer that are closely linked to obesity. These include colon, breast, esophagus, gallbladder, ovaries, and pancreatic cancer.
Bariatric Surgery for Weight Loss
The National Institute of Health recognizes bariatric or weight loss surgery as the only effective long-term solution for morbid obesity.
If you are considering this, the team at New Life Center for Bariatric Surgery in Knoxville would love to speak with you. Our Patient Advocate will work with you to help you understand the process of weight loss surgery and to help determine if this procedure is right for you.
For more information, call the New Life office at (865) 694-9676.
Reference: https://www.webmd.com/diet/obesity/obesity-health-risks#1