Common, Serious and Avoidable Health Problems Associated with Untreated Obesity

Increased rates of obesity among Americans have given rise to numerous troublesome chronic conditions directly attributable and related to the obesity. Some of the more common chronic disorders are:

Cardiovascular Disease: Unhealthy eating habits and being over-weight can contribute to increased and high levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides which can in turn contribute to the development of of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of heart disease and premature death in Americans. In addition, blood pressure is raised in those who are overweight and puts additional strain on an overweight individual's heart.

Diabetes: Increased fatty tissue reduces the body's ability to use insulin to convert glucose into energy. Because of this handicap, the pancreas struggles and has to work much harder to produce more insulin. This strain on the pancreas causes and contributes to diabetes.

Gallstones: Cholelithiasis (the presence of gallstones) is associated with obesity. People who are obese may produce excessive levels of cholesterol which can encourage the formation of gallstones. Overweight individuals may also have larger than normal gallbladders that do not empty completely - which can also trigger gallstones.

Sleeping Problems: Obesity is closely associated with sleep apnea, a sleep disturbance where a person can stop breathing for as long as 10 seconds. During these non-breathing periods, oxygen levels fall and can be life threatening. In addition, sleep apnea can cause an inability to rest at night and fatigue during the day, interfering with work or school performance.

Orthopedic Issues: A variety of serious and painful problems negatively affecting the bones, joints and muscles can occur in overweight and obese individuals. Unfortunately, these orthopedic problems can make it difficult for obese individuals to exercise and be mobile.

Psychological Problems Like Depression Or Isolation: Overweight or obese individuals can easily become depressed about their size or health. They are often intimidated to initiate or become involved in close relationships. Because they sometimes can not move as fast or efficiently as others, obese or overweight individuals sometimes limit physical activities or sports - further isolating them.

No matter how you slice it, being overweight or obese can lead to a variety of avoidable health problems that can either be reduced or avoided by losing weight. In fact, some in the medical profession believe that if the obesity epidemic continues at it's current rate, life expectancy will eventually be greatly reduced in the future.

It's important to treat obesity as aggressively as you would any other disease or disorder. If you had cancer or any other life threatening illness, chances are you would consider and pursue any and all promising treatment options. You must do the same with obesity. Your health may well depend upon it.