Lawrence Freview

It is a common knowledge that obese people are more susceptible to illnesses compared to the leaner ones. Being overweight increases the risks for premature death and disability.

But US further studies shows that even those who have a few extra pounds increases the risk for premature death, too.

Researchers have concluded that around 1.5 million people who were being studied shows that healthy white adults who were overweight were 13 percent more at risk to die during the time they were followed in the study than those whose weight is in an ideal range.

“Having a little extra meat on your bones — if that meat happens to be fat — is harmful, not beneficial,” said Dr. Michael Thun of the American Cancer Society, senior author of the study.

“Now there’s really a very large body of evidence which supports the finding that being overweight is associated with asuch as small increased risk of death,” Berrington said.

This government-funded research has gathered 19 long-term studies of mostly white adults. These focus people are primarily healthy at the beginning, smokers and those with hearts diseases and cancer are being excluded. Each person’s body mass index were noted and checked. During the follow-up periods, they checked on who died which ranged from five to 28 years.

Here are some obesity-related illnesses:

* High Blood pressure and hypertension –
One-third of all cases of high blood pressure are related with obesity. High blood pressure is twice as common in adults who are obese than in those who are at a healthy weight.

* High blood cholesterol –
50% more likely to have elevated blood cholesterol levels.

* Diabetes Type 2 –
Non-insulin dependent accounts for nearly 90% of all cases of diabetes. According to the studies, it is estimated that 88 to 97% of type 2 diabetes cases diagnosed in overweight people are a direct result of obesity

* Congestive heart failure –
Obesity increases the risk of congestive heart failure, a potentially fatal condition in which the heart muscle weakens, progressively losing the ability to pump blood.

* 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.

* Stroke –
There is a link between obesity and stroke; this is particularly the case for people whose fat is situated predominantly in the abdominal region. Overweight people are more likely to have high blood cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, but these associations are not the only explanations for the greater stroke rate.

* Gallstones and gallbladder disorders.

* Gout –
The condition may develop in people with obesity incidents are remarkably higher, Gout is strongly associated with obesity.

* Osteoarthritis –
Obesity may be a major factor in the development of osteoarthritis, particularly of the knee and especially in women.

* Some types of cancer -such as endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon

* Complications of pregnancy.

* Poor female reproductive health – examples would be menstrual irregularities, infertility, irregular ovulation.

* Bladder control problems – such as stress incontinence.

* Psychological disorders -such as depression, eating disorders, distorted body image, and low self- esteem.