Rousing Public Awareness – Obesity Related Health Problems

According to the statistic data of the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey or the NHANES, nearly two- thirds of the total adult population in the United States are overweight, and an astonishing figure of about 30.5% of Americans are obese. This over weight and obesity prevalence fact sheet provided by the study as well presents the accompanying obesity related health problems in the population, apart from the disease’s mortality and economic costs. And a significantly stunning 61+ million people are at risk of the deadly disorders associated with obesity.

Only some of the known and proven obesity related health problems are the following:
* type 2 diabetes
* insulin resistance, glucose intolerance
* heart disease and congestive heart failure
* stroke, respiratory breathing problems and sleep apnea
* high blood pressure (hypertension)
* high blood cholesterol (dyslipidemia)
* cholescystitis and cholelithiasis
* gallbladder disease and urine leakage (stress incontinence)
* presence of excess body and facial hair (hirsutism)
* poor female reproductive health (menstrual irregularities, infertility, irregular ovulation)
* pregnancy complications
* degeneration of cartilage and bone of joints (osteoarthritis)
* psychological disorders (depression, low self- esteem, distorted body image and eating disorders)
* some forms of cancer (breast, uterine, endometrial, prostate, colorectal, kidney, and gallbladder), and
* increased surgical risk

To note, there are also gender- specific obesity related health problems among obese women and men. Obese women who have a waist circumference of more than 35 inches is considered to have a high amount of visceral fats or accumulated fats surrounding the internal organs which are associated with higher risks of liver disease and chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. On the other hand, among obese males, are more likely deaths caused by colon, rectum, or prostate cancer as well as acquiring a suffering disorder of sleep apnea which is seriously associated with stroke and heart attack.

Being obese causes an increased risk for developing these numbers of serious and potentially lethal health problems. What makes these obesity related health problems even more noteworthy is the fact that it causes some 300,000 premature deaths in the United States every single year. Causing government spending of billions of dollars in health care costs, and the culprit is preventable. And with these risky obesity related health problems always in mind, no one would rather eat what he wants rather than wanting to live a long healthy life with his loved ones.