Obesity reduces the quality and quantity of life because it predisposes to suffer from multiple illnesses and exacerbates existing ones. Here we will revise the pathologies associated with obesity, which improve with weight loss alone time.
1. Hypertension
Knowledge of the relationship between obesity and high blood pressure goes back to the twenties. Since then numerous studies have confirmed this relationship so that hypertension is more than twice as common among obese than normal weight people. The central obesity or android type is more closely related to hypertension. This fully demonstrated that weight loss reduces blood pressure numbers up even normalize.
2. Venous insufficiency
Obesity, especially the type gynoid hinders the return of blood from the veins of the legs to the heart. This causes a sensation of heavy legs, but also causes dilation of veins (varicose veins), inflammation (phlebitis), itching, ulcers and even clot formation (thrombophlebitis) that can have serious consequences such as pulmonary embolism.
3. Ischemic heart disease
Obese people have higher mortality from coronary heart disease than those who remain at normal weight. In fact obesity is considered since 1998 as one of four major cardiovascular risk factors (together with hypertension, snuff and stress).
Today, this clearly demonstrated the association between obesity and heart disease like angina pectoris, heart attack and stroke. This association occurs mainly in android type obesity, which is the one with higher triglyceride levels. A decrease in weight reduces the possibility of heart disease and mortality that is associated.
4. Stroke
The American Academy of Neurology has submitted, in early May 2001, a study shows that the risk of stroke (cerebral hemorrhage both cerebral ischemia) is increased in overweight males. This risk is linear, ie, rises with increasing weight, so that each point that raises the body mass index, increased by 6% overall risk of stroke.
5. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
This type of diabetes occurs in adults and is associated with obesity in most cases, while 85% of type 2 diabetics are obese. It is most often associated with the android type obesity. It causes a decrease in insulin production and also to insulin resistance so that this does not serve to bring sugar into body cells.
Thus the main treatment for this disease at first is diet, trying to be balanced at the same time cause a decrease in weight, which normalizes blood sugar levels.
6. Altered blood lipids
- Increase in LDL or bad cholesterol and elevated triglycerides. The increase in blood cholesterol and triglycerides are a risk factor for diseases that affect blood vessels and heart. This occurs especially in android type obesity. Weight reduction improves the levels of these lipids with the consequent reduction in cardiovascular risk associated with it.
- Decreased HDL or good cholesterol it decreases the cholesterol deposits on the wall of the arteries by preventing these from being blocked with protecting myocardial infarction and stroke.
7. Increased blood uric acid
Increased uric acid, with the consequent possibility that this precipitate in the joints (mainly the toes) and rise to what we know as gout. This disease is associated historically with obesity – who does not remember the king’s image with fat foot raised by the attack of gout? -.
8. Arteriosclerosis
It is favored by a deposition of fat in the inner lining of the arteries which reduces its internal diameter with a consequent decrease in blood passing through them and therefore with a lower blood supply to irrigated areas. As a result can lead to heart attack, thrombosis or circulation problems in legs. This is a slow and silent face not giving up after many years of starting.
The factors causing this disease in addition to increased blood cholesterol, smoking and hypertension and to a lesser extent increased blood triglycerides, diabetes mellitus and physical inactivity. The more factors are given in the same person, the more likely you are to suffer arteriosclerosis.
9. Osteoarthritis
Excess weight causes extra wear on the joints of the body that are subjected to a greater than normal effort. Then comes pain and difficulty in movement, especially in joints that are called the load of the spine, hip, knees and ankles.
Besides excess fat in the joints alters the correct functioning.
10. Respiratory
The accumulation of fat in the chest makes breathing movements of the lung, altering respiratory function. These alterations are greater during sleep causing the so-called sleep apnea. This condition is a temporary interruption of breathing that is recovered with a big snore. At this time lack of oxygen supply to the brain, which can provocaralteraciones heart rate, hypertension crisis or strokes.
Besides the quality of sleep is poor and the affected fall asleep at any time during the day, which poses a risk of accident if you are doing any activity that requires full attention as driving or operating machinery.
11. Digestive disorders
Excess fat in the abdomen increases the pressure at this level. On the one hand, this favors the herniation of the stomach through the diaphragm so that goes to the chest causing what is known as a hiatal hernia.
On the other hand hinders the proper functioning of the so-called cardiac valve located between the esophagus and stomach, preventing the passage of stomach contents into the esophagus. Thus the gastric juice is very acid irritating the esophagus passes the walls and causing esophagitis manifesting as burning sensation and causes injuries to the esophageal mucosa. Besides obesity, especially type gynoid, predisposing to stones in the gallbladder and liver degeneration.
12. Neoplastic diseases
Obesity is a risk factor for various cancers. In humans increases the likelihood of colon cancer, rectal and prostate cancers in women and promotes the growth of ovarian cancer, uterine (endometrial and cervical), breast and gallbladder.
13. Risk in the operating room
The excess fat hinders the realization of any surgery for several reasons. On one hand it is a physical obstruction to access to the areas involved. On the other hand changes, as we have seen, occur in respiratory function, increases the risk of complications. Also in abdominal surgery excess fat delays healing and promotes infection.
14. Mortality
Being overweight increases mortality in the population that suffers. A Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 29kg/m2 mainly produces higher mortality from cardiovascular disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus and some cancers.
The risk of heart attack and strokes increases especially in cases of android type obesity that is where the excess fat is distributed around the abdomen. This demonstrated that weight loss and normalization of BMI decreases the risk of mortality from diseases associated with obesity.