Health risks associated with obesity

Patients with obesity have a significantly increased risk of a number of chronic conditions that affect both quality of life as well as life expectancy. For example, it is stated that a 30-year-old male with obesity and type 2 diabetes has an average life expectancy that is 10 years lower compared to a male of the same age without diabetes or overweight.

 

Type 2 diabetes

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Obese patients are up to 5 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes . In type 2 diabetes, the body cells become insensitive to the insulin hormone, resulting in the fact that, among other things, the sugar level in the blood remains too high. This in itself leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

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Cardiovascular disease

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Obese patients have a 3-fold higher risk of cardiovascular disease, caused both directly by the obesity itself and indirectly by type 2 diabetes. This broad denominator includes atherosclerosis (vascular calcification), hypertension (high blood pressure) and dyslipidemia (impaired cholesterol levels) . The combination of these factors can lead to, among other things, myocardial infarction, stroke (cerebrovascular accident) and peripheral vascular disease.

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Fertility

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Infertility in women is often caused by PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) . While many questions remain unanswered about PCOS, obesity is known to play an important role in its development. About 50% of women with PCOS are either overweight or obese. Women with PCOS and obesity also have higher rates of anovulation (absence of ovulation) compared to women with PCOS and normal weight.

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Others

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Obesity also plays an important role in the following conditions:

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• Asthma

• Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS)

• Fatty liver (steatosis)/Liver cirrhosis

• Skin conditions

• Gout

• Joint pain (arthrosis)

• Gallbladder disease

• Reflux disease (GERD)

• Different types of cancer (colon, uterus, cervix, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer, kidney cancer)

• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (high pressure in the brain)

• Migraine

• Cataract

• Urinary Stress Incontinence

• Inflammation of the veins (phlebitis)

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