Weight shouldn’t only be thought of as a cosmetic issue – there are huge health ramifications.
When people are carrying additional weight, it can contribute to osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease. Your joints are the points in your body where the bones join together, which allows you to move, bend, turn, etc. The more you weigh, the more stress is placed on the weight bearing joints like ankles, knees, hips and spine. This puts you at greater risk for developing osteoarthritis.
Another common problem associated with being overweight is sleep apnea – a dangerous condition where while sleeping people stop breathing or only take shallow breaths. This affects overweight people because they may have more fat stored around their neck, which narrows the airway.
Being overweight can also cause type 2 diabetes. Normally, the body breaks down food into glucose and then carries it to cells throughout the body. The cells use a hormone called insulin to turn the glucose into energy. With type 2 diabetes, the body can’t produce enough insulin or use it properly, so the glucose cannot get into the body’s cells and builds up in the blood. Type 2 diabetes is dangerous because it can lead to a stroke, kidney disease, foot problems and early death.
Continue the Conversation with Your Doctor
If these health issues sound scary, it’s because they are and these are just a few of the possible health problems associated with being overweight. The best thing you can do is to take this knowledge and continue the conversation with your doctor.
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