Burden of obesity: Overweight adults are prone to these 7 health complications

Obesity has seriously hit the global population. In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 650 million were obese, the WHO had said in a report released in June 2021. To address the growing health concerns around obesity, the WHO has launched "Health service delivery framework for prevention and management of obesity". Released in May 2023, this aims to curb the global burden of obesity.

Obesity is the condition when an individual's body mass index or BMI is more than 30. BMI is a rough guide to estimating whether an individual is fat or not. BMI greater than 25 is considered to be overweight. Obesity increases the risk of non-communicable diseases. The WHO estimates that by 2025, approximately 167 million people will be either overweight or obese.

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Obesity impacts most of the body's organ systems and one of the highly susceptible organ is the heart. In 2012, obesity was the leading cause of death due to heart diseases and stroke. The risk of non-communicable cardiovascular diseases increases with an increase in the body mass index.

Obesity is held accountable for a huge number of diabetes cases. Diabetologists consider it to be a big risk factor for metabolic disorder. Inflammation caused in the body due to excess fat deposition around the waist makes the body less responsive to insulin. Subsequently, this affects the way the body metabolizes fats and carbohydrates. As a result of this, the blood sugar level increases.

Being overweight or obese obviously puts an extra burden on the bones and joints of the body. People who are obese are at a higher risk of developing osteoarthritis. The extra weight of the body puts mechanical strain on the bones and primary joint areas like knees and hips are affected the most.

Several studies have found a link between obesity and cancer. There are research based evidence on a clear association between obesity and cancer of the esophagus, pancreas, colon and rectum, breast, endometrium, gall bladder and kidney.

"Although a biological link between obesity and depression has not yet been definitively identified, possible mechanisms include activation of inflammation, changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, insulin resistance, and social or cultural factors," a Harvard report says. The reason obesity affects the biological health of an individual can also be a reason why it affects mental health.

There is stronger evidence supporting the role of obesity and reproductive health. During pregnancy, obesity increases the risk of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and other complications.

The two major respiratory complications associated with obesity are asthma and obstructive sleep apnea. Being overweight impairs the respiratory function of the body. As per reports, the accumulation of fats reduces the flexibility of the chest wall and narrows the airways of the lungs.

To lose weight, one needs to make changes in the daily habits like having a good diet, doing exercises, limiting intake of fats and sugars, eating more legumes, whole grains and unprocessed foods, and avoiding packaged food items. Foods loaded with hidden salts should be avoided at all cost. Regular exercise is the key to keep the weight under control.

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