When you are obese, you have to deal with not liking what you see in the mirror. It’s hard to find clothes. Sometimes you can’t even fit into an airplane seat. These are actually the least of your problems. What’s more worrisome is that obesity comes with some serious health risks.
If you weigh above your average ideal weight by 40 to 75 pounds you are under the category of being obese. Weigh above your ideal weight by 100 pounds then you are considered morbidly obese.
Obesity gives your body an undue amount of stress and pressure – affecting bones, muscles and joints. That’s because you are constantly lugging around too much extra weight. Imagine if you had to carry around an 80 pound sack of potatoes the entire day?
The joints are what carries the brunt of all this extra weight. And these happen to be the most delicate parts of our frames. Hips and ankles are at risk, but most especially the knees. The knee joints have to support majority of our body weight.
Joints are actually the body’s weakest spots since separate bone pieces come together with them. Obese people commonly have trouble with their knees as this very complex joint faces wear and tear with every single step we take.
Just think that each step can put twice, triple, sometimes four times the normal pressure on those joints. This causes the joints to wear out earlier than usual. This is why pain and abnormal knee conditions often accompany obesity.
While hips joints and ankles are also at risk, its the knees that generally carry the brunt of the weight and absorb pressure, so this is where the injuries often appear first.
The body’s organs and system are also affected by what constitutes as obesity. Fat can crowd the insides of our bodies.
Internal organs are also affected by obesity. Big masses of body fat can actually crowd internal organs and put undue pressure against them. This has effects on how our organs will run and can therefore affect body functions.
Because the extra weight requires more work for the body to keep going, blood pressure is often elevated and the heart abnormally strained. This can be a factor in heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.
Obesity also signals that the person’s food intake is too high in calories – often with unhealthy foods. Sugar-laden, fatty, processed foods can contribute to diabetes. Diabetes in turn can damage blood vessels, eyes and nerves.
Some have even lost their eyesight or a foot or other appendage due to diabetes and poor circulation. Definitely something to think about!
There is hope for the obese. But you must get started right away with a weight loss plan involving both diet and exercise.
Many have succeeded by sheer dedication and commitment to a sensible diet and exercise plan. You can overcome obesity too!
