The Dangers Of Being Overweight
Everybody has a healthy weight range, but if you're outside of your respective range, there can be significant physical consequences. The degree to which you exceed the range determines whether you are "overweight" or "obese.” Health practitioners say that weighing more than 20% above your specified range is obese, while "overweight" is less than 20% (but a number above 25 on Body Mass Index). While being obese is associated with greater complications, being overweight can hold an equal number of dangers.
We've established what it means to be overweight, so now let's discuss the specific dangers of being overweight.
Being overweight causes heart diseaseThe more weight you are packing, the greater your risk of an early death. Heart attacks are the No. 1 cause of death for American men.
The link between extra weight and an increased heart attack risk lies in how the body responds to an increased fat intake. Naturally, the body maintains a steady level of water, carbs, fat, and protein, along with vitamins and minerals. A higher overall fat concentration increases sodium levels and ups cholesterol and triglyceride fats in your bloodstream. This consequence is especially bothersome because HDL cholesterol, a known risk-reducer of heart disease, is replaced by "bad cholesterol.” The end result can be coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attacks.
Excessive weight also increases blood pressure (hypertension), causing your heart to work too hard and increasing your risk of heart disease. An additional scary consequence of extra weight is an increased probability of angina-related chest pains and "sudden death" heart attacks (coming without earlier symptoms).
As scary as it is to consider links between weight and heart attack risks, one positive is that even losing 5% to 10% of your extra weight will lower your danger risk and put you on the road toward healthy body chemistry.
Being overweight causes cancerHormones are the key link between an overweight person and an increased risk of cancer. The New England Journal of Medicine published a study that concluded that virtually all forms of cancer are more prevalent in people with a higher body mass. Body mass wasn't only linked to new cancer cases; it was also linked to cancer survival rates, which were lower for heavier people. To solidify this argument, The New England Journal of Medicine also pointed out that 15% of cancer deaths were tied to being overweight.
These statistics are alarming, but how exactly does excessive weight cause cancer? There are continuing studies on the issue, but here's what we do know: With increased body weight, the adipose fat tissue can offset the body's natural hormonal balance, making the body an easier host for tumors. Cancer is also related to the placement of fat on the body. For example, a high amount of abdominal fat carries a greater risk of colon cancer, and obesity-linked gastric reflux increases the chances of esophageal cancer.
It sounds daunting, but the good thing to know is that increased physical activity and a proper diet are known to reduce cancer risks, so anyone can make a change for the better.
What other dangers come with being overweight?