Diseases can occur if you are overweight or obese

What is obesity?

Obesity is a condition in which the body accumulates an excessive amount of fat, reaching excessive levels and negatively affecting health. To evaluate obesity, we often use body mass index (BMI), which is calculated by dividing weight (kg) by height (m) squared.

According to BMI standards, a person is considered obese when their BMI is equal to or greater than 30. However, BMI is only a relative assessment method and does not accurately assess body fat percentage or distribution. differentiate between fat and muscle.

What causes obesity?

Obesity has many causes, including:

1. Consuming energy beyond needs: Excessive food, unbalanced diet and consuming more calories than the body consumes lead to fat accumulation.

2. Genetics: Genetic factors can affect the body's ability to metabolize energy and control weight.

3. Unhealthy lifestyle: Lack of physical activity, lack of exercise, poor eating habits, consumption of processed and high-calorie foods promote obesity.

4. Environmental impact: Certain environmental factors such as unhealthy and convenience food advertising, sedentary work environments, and exposure to unhealthy foods can impact dietary choices and weight.

What diseases can occur if you are overweight or obese?

Overweight and obesity can cause many serious health problems. Here are some diseases that can occur when you are overweight or obese:

1. Cardiovascular disease: Overweight and obesity are one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Related health problems include hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, and heart failure.

2. Diabetes: Overweight and obesity increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Excess fat tissue in the body can cause insulin resistance or affect the body's ability to use insulin, leading to increased blood sugar.

3. Fatty liver disease: Overweight and obesity can cause fatty liver disease, in which fat accumulates in the liver. If left untreated, fatty liver disease can progress to hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure.

4. Kidney disease: Obesity can cause kidney problems such as chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. High body pressure due to being overweight and obese can cause damage to kidney structures.

5. Bone and joint diseases: Overweight and obesity increase the risk of bone and joint diseases such as arthritis and osteoarthritis. Excess fat puts pressure on the joints, causing pain and reducing the ability to move freely.

6. Respiratory syndrome: Obesity can cause sleep apnea and other respiratory problems. Fat tissue accumulation in the neck and chest area can compress the airways, causing difficulty breathing and disrupting sleep.

7. Cancer: There are some studies linking overweight and obesity with a higher risk of certain types of cancer such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, colon cancer, esophageal cancer and adenocarcinoma prostate.

It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, to reduce the risk of conditions related to overweight and obesity.