Obesity Risks

Obesity is a common nutritional and metabolic disorder that affects a majority of adults in the United States. Obesity can be defined simply as too much body fat. A common definition of obesity is more than 25 percent body fat for men and more than 32 percent for women. It is estimated that one in three Americans have some excess body fat; an estimated 20 percent are obese. Obesity contributes to the increased risk of illnesses that are among the nations leading causes of death. Too much fat, especially in the waist area puts you at greater risk for health problems including high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

In addition to the medical health risks, there are psychological effects and social stigmas associated with obesity. For many people, emotional suffering is one of the most painful aspects of obesity. Because American Society places emphasis on physical appearance, attractiveness is often associated with being thin. Often people believe the obese are lazy and gluttonous, even though this is not true. Obesity causes prejudice and discrimination in the job market, at school, and in social situations causing feelings of rejection, shame and depression.

Obesity is now one of the United States worst public health problems and can be linked to at least 30 medical conditions including:

1. Hypertension
2. Type 2 Diabetes (NIDDM)
3. Cardiovascular Disease
4. Urinary Stress Incontinence
5. Sleep Apnea
6. Daytime Sleepiness
7. Osteoarthritis of knee and hip.
8. Rheumatoid arthritis
9. Gallbladder Disease
10. Gout
11. Impaired Respiratory Function
12. Low Back Pain
13. Stroke
14. Breast cancer in women and men
15. Infertility
16. Deep Vein Thrombosis
17. Colorectal Cancer
18. Renal Cell Cancer
19. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
20. Chronic Venous Insufficiency
21. Cancers of Esophagus and Gastric Cardia
22. Heat Disorders
23. Impaired Immune Response
24. Infections Following Wounds
25. Liver Disease
26. Obstetric and Gynecological Complications
27. Pain
28. Severe Acute Biliary and Alcoholic Pancreatitis
29. Surgical Complications
30. Traumatic Injuries to Teeth

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1001 Cromwell Bridge Rd.

Towson. MD 21286 | (410) 583-0123
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