Medical Results of Being Overweight or Obese

Persons that become overweight or obese are at risk for developing many potentially serious medical problems, including:

• Depression: Depression is very common after repeated dieting failures and disapproval from family, friends and the public.
• Diabetes: Obese individuals develop a resistance to insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar levels. With time, the resulting high blood sugar levels can cause type 2 diabetes—a condition that can cause serious damage to the body.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux or Heartburn: When acid escapes upward from the stomach into the esophagus through a weak or overloaded gastroesophageal valve, heartburn (acid indigestion) can occur. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can lead to Barrett’s esophagus—a pre-cancerous change in the lining of the esophagus and a cause of esophageal cancer.
• High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease: Excess body weight adds strain to the workload of the heart. This can lead to high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney damage, and peripheral vascular disease.
• Incontinence:  The excess abdominal weight seen in overweight/obese people causes extra strain on the bladder’s urinary valve. This can result in weakening of the value, resulting in urinary stress incontinence or the leakage of urine with coughing, sneezing or laughing.
• Infertility:  Many overweight/obese women develop an inability, or diminished ability, to become pregnant.
• Menstrual Irregularities: Morbidly obese women may experience disruptions of menstrual cycles as well as abnormal flow and increased pain.
• Osteoarthritis: The extra weight placed on joints—particularly knees and hips—results in increased wear and tear of joints. This can lead to chronic inflammation in these joints, a destructive joint condition known as osteoarthritis.
• Low Back Pain: Excess weight also strains the bones and muscles of the back, which can cause disk problems, pain and decreased mobility.
• Sleep Apnea and Respiratory Problems: The increased fat deposits in the tongue and neck that develop in overweight/obese people can cause intermittent obstruction of the air passage. This condition, sleep apnea, can contribute to heart problems and many other worrisome medical complications, including chronic headaches and severe daytime drowsiness that is a common cause of automobile accidents and on-the-job injuries due to accidents.  

Isn’t it time you kicked your weight problems out of your life? You deserve to feel good, look good, and have excellent health just like everyone else. Call us today at (520) 885-2822 to get started on the new you!