Be Aware Of Obesity’s Dangers
While obesity itself does not technically kill people, between 100,000 to 400,000 Americans die from the diseases that come with it each year. Even at the lower estimates, it is still a massive death toll; much higher than other causes of death which get a lot more press attention.
Remember that the heart must pump blood 24 hours a day to supply and move this extra weight, and it puts a big strain on it to do so. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US, and those with a BMI of 25 or greater have at least twice the risk of dying from it.
As over 80% of people who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes are also overweight, there is a clear link between obesity and diabetes. Furthermore, it appears that being overweight increases the risk of some types of cancers, such as that of the kidneys and colon.
These are just a few of the fatal diseases that have been linked to being obese. Diseases that are usually not life threatening, but greatly affect quality of life, such as Osteoarthritis, are also a much greater risk for people who are overweight.
Those who are overweight need to need to do something about it if they are serious about their health. While there is a lot of information available on the Internet, it is always a good idea to check with a physician and use some common sense.
Much of the information you can find on the Internet is of great value, but there is also a significant portion which is put out just to sell diet and weight loss programs. If something sounds too good to be true, then it is probably best to avoid it. Unfortunately, there are no quick, easy fixes.
Awareness of the dangers of obesity should be motivation enough for people to lose weight. Those at risk should check their BMI and take action today.
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Tags: Disease, Health, health risks, illness, lose weight, obesity, overweight, weight loss