Tuesday, November 10, 2009

OBESITY CAUSES HEALTH RISKS

The importance of maintaining a balanced weight cannot be over emphasized, as weight increases, so does the prevalence of health risks, illness and death. Lets spend some time focusing on some of the more common factors associated with weight problems, including overweight, obese weight and morbidly obese weight problems.

The picture of the energy balance scale shows that, weight gain is a result of taking in extra calories, decreasing physical activity (calories used) or both. Personal choices concerning calorie consumption and physical activity can lead to energy imbalance. This over a long period of time will result in body contour changes, increased weight gain and eventually obesity.

Energy Imbalance,can be simply likened to Newton third law of Motion which states"action and reaction are equal and opposite";so it is,for a proper weight balance,the number of calories consumed must be effectively used up,by the body,during the day and night,in order to prevent the body from storing up the extra calories as excess fat;Energy Balance is like a scale. When calories consumed are greater than calories used weight gain results.

Some illnesses may lead to problems with weight and obesity, and unfortunately morbid obesity. These may include Cushing's disease, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Medications, such as steroids and some antidepressants, used to treat many illnesses may also contribute weight gain. For these people, it is very difficult to maintain a normal weight. They are certainly predisposed to develop weight problems with prolonged use of their required medications.

We will attempt to answer this simple question ‘are all ages affected?' is, yes. There is much concern about the increasing prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents. The trends of increasing weight in children are very disturbing for the overall health of our country. Characteristically, overweight habits and obesity acquired during childhood or adolescence may persist into adulthood and increase the risk for some chronic diseases later in life.

Overweight and Obesity among Children and Adolescents
The percentage of children and adolescents who are defined as overweight has more than doubled since the early 1970s. About 15 percent of children (ages 6-11) and 15 % of adolescents (ages 12-19) in the year 2000 were overweight. Another 15 % of each of these age groups were also at risk to develop an overweight condition. The total number of overweight youths was approximately 4.7 million, or 11 percent of children.

Overweight teenaged boys typically will lose some fat accumulated before puberty during their adolescence. Overweight girls on the other hand, will continue with fat deposition. Because of these different propensities for overweight boys and girls, measures of body fat and body weight, are difficult to interpret in children and adolescents.




SOME MAJOR DISEASES LINKED WITH OVER WEIGHT

PHSYCOLOGICAL STRESS:Body weight awareness and interventions need to recognize that obese children also may experience psychological stress. The reduction of Body Mass Index (BMI) in children and adolescents should be achieved by emphasizing physical activity and a properly balanced diet so that healthy growth is maintained. Additional research is needed to better define the prevalence and health consequences of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents and the implications of such findings for these persons as they become the next generation of adults.

CANCER:Cancer of the gallbladder, breast, uterus, cervix, and ovaries (for women). Overweight men are at greater risk for developing cancer of the colon, rectum, and prostate. Almost half of breast cancer cases are diagnosed among obese women; an estimated 42 percent of colon cancer cases are diagnosed among obese individuals. – breast cancer total cost: $2.9 billion, endometrial cancer total cost: $933 million, and colon cancer total cost: $3.5 billion.


DIABETES: Overweight people are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as people who are not overweight. Type 2 diabetes reduces your body's ability to control your blood sugar. It is a major cause of early death, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and blindness. If you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight and being more physically active can help control your blood sugar levels. You may also be able to reduce the amount of medicine that you need. Nearly 80 percent of patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus are obese, its total cost: $98 billion (2001).

OSTEOARTHRITIS:(wearing away of the joints)Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder that most often affects the joints in your knees, hips, and lower back. Extra weight puts extra pressure on these joints and wears away the cartilage (tissue that cushions the joints) that normally protects them. Osteoarthritis – total cost: $21.2 billion (direct $5.3 billion, indirect cost: $15.9 billion).

GOUT :(joint pain caused by excess uric acid)Gout is a joint disease caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid sometimes forms crystals that are deposited in the joints. Gout is more common in overweight people. If you have a history of gout, check with your doctor before trying to lose weight. Some diets may lead to an attack of gout in people who have high levels of uric acid or who have had gout before.

SLEEP APNEA:Breathing problems, including sleep apnea (interrupted breathing during sleep). Sleep apnea is a serious condition that can cause a person to stop breathing for short periods during sleep and to snore heavily. Sleep apnea may cause daytime sleepiness and even heart failure. The risk for sleep apnea increases with higher body weights. Weight loss usually improves sleep apnea.Ultimate Weight loss usually improves sleep apnea.

HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL:High levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol ("bad cholesterol") and triglycerides (another type of fat in the blood) can lead to heart disease. Obesity is also linked to low levels of HDL cholesterol ("good cholesterol").Ultimate Weight loss can improve your cholesterol levels.

HEART DISEASE,STROKE & HYPERTENSION:High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Obese adults are twice as likely to have high blood pressure as those who are at a healthy weight.

COMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY:Obesity increases the risks of high blood pressure and a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Obese women are more likely to have problems with labor and delivery.

INFERTILITY IN WOMEN:Irregular menstrual cycles and infertility. Abdominal obesity is linked to polycystic ovary syndrome, a cause of infertility in women.

SOCIAL DESCRIMINATION:Psychological and social effects, such as depression and discrimination. One of the most painful aspects of obesity may be the emotional suffering it causes. American society places great emphasis on physical appearance, often equating attractiveness with slimness, especially in women. The messages, intended or not, may make overweight people feel unattractive. Obese people often face prejudice or discrimination at work, at school, while looking for a job, and in social situations. Feelings of rejection, shame, or depression are common.

Children, unfortunately, will not only have to deal with all of the above pending problems, they will also have to deal with the developmental issues that are unique to the younger age groups. They will experience decreased mobility and flexibility resulting in decreased physical coordination while growing, eating disorders, stigmatization, low self-esteem, withdrawal from peers and family, increased aged dependent suicide, poor school performance, and lack of concentration.

In summary,Overweight and obese individuals (BMI of 25 and above) are at increased risk for physical ailments such as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, high blood lipid levels, type 2 non-insulin diabetes, insulin resistance with elevated insulin blood levels, glucose intolerance, coronary heart disease, chest pain (angina pectoris), congestive heart failure, stroke, gallbladder disease with gallstone, and gallbladder infections, osteoarthritis, obstructive sleep apnea and or other respiratory problems, gout, skin rashes and diseases (heat rash and intertrigo etc.), orthopedic problems (limb and joint stress etc.), some types of cancer (such as endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon), complications of pregnancy, poor female reproductive health (such as menstrual irregularities, infertility, irregular ovulation), bladder control problems (such as stress incontinence), Uric acid nephrolithiasis, psychological disorders (such as depression, eating disorders, distorted body image, and low self esteem).

The health outcomes related to these diseases, however, often can be improved through weight loss or, at a minimum, no further weight gain.Thus the Ultimate weight Loss plan is for every body.

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