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Health
Risks of being overweight- Part (2) |
Sleep
apnea
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What
is it?
Sleep
apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing for short periods
during the night. A person who has sleep apnea may suffer from daytime
sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and even heart failure.
How
is it linked to overweight?
The
risk for sleep apnea is higher for people who are overweight. A person
who is overweight may have more fat stored around his or her neck. This
may make the airway smaller. A smaller airway can make breathing
difficult, loud (snoring), or stop altogether. In addition, fat stored
in the neck and throughout the body can produce substances that cause
inflammation. Inflammation in the neck may be a risk factor for sleep
apnea.
What
can weight loss do?
Weight
loss usually improves sleep apnea. Weight loss may help to decrease neck
size and lessen inflammation.
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| Osteoarthritis
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What
is it?
Osteoarthritis
is a common joint disorder. With osteoarthritis, the joint bone and
cartilage (tissue that protects joints) wear away. Osteoarthritis most
often affects the joints of the knees, hips, and lower back.
How
is it linked to overweight?
Extra
weight may place extra pressure on joints and cartilage, causing them to
wear away. In addition, people with more body fat may have higher blood
levels of substances that cause inflammation. Inflammation at the joints
may raise the risk for osteoarthritis.
What
can weight loss do?
Weight
loss can decrease stress on your knees, hips, and lower back, and lessen
inflammation in your body. If you have osteoarthritis, losing weight may
help improve your symptoms.
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Gallbladder
disease
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What
is it?
Gallstones
are clusters of solid material that form in the gallbladder. They are
made mostly of cholesterol and can sometimes cause abdominal or back
pain.
How
is it linked to overweight?
People
who are overweight have a higher risk for developing gallbladder disease
and gallstones. They may produce more cholesterol, a risk factor for
gallstones. Also, people who are overweight may have an enlarged
gallbladder, which may not work properly.
What
can weight loss do?
Weight
loss — especially fast weight loss (more than 3 pounds per week) or
loss of a large amount of weight — can actually increase your chance
of developing gallstones. Modest, slow weight loss of about 1/2 to 2
pounds a week is less likely to cause gallstones.
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Fatty
liver disease
What
is it?
Fatty
liver disease occurs when fat builds up in the liver cells and causes
injury and inflammation in the liver. It can sometimes lead to severe
liver damage, cirrhosis (build-up of scar tissue that blocks proper
blood flow in the liver), or even liver failure. Fatty liver disease is
like alcoholic liver damage, but it is not caused by alcohol and can
occur in people who drink little or no alcohol. The National Digestive
Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) has more information on fatty
liver disease or nonalcoholic
steatohepatitis (NASH).
How
is it linked to overweight?
People
who have diabetes or "pre-diabetes" (when blood sugar levels
are higher than normal but not yet in the diabetic range) are more
likely to have fatty liver disease than people without these conditions.
And people who are overweight are more likely to have diabetes (see
Type 2 diabetes above). It is not known why some people who are
overweight or diabetic get fatty liver and others do not.
What
can weight loss do?
Losing
weight can help you control your blood sugar levels. It can also reduce
the build-up of fat in your liver and prevent further injury. People
with fatty liver disease should avoid drinking alcohol.
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How
can I lower my health risks?
If
you are overweight, losing as little as 5 percent of your body weight
may lower your risk for several diseases, including heart disease and
diabetes. If you weigh 200 pounds, this means losing 10 pounds. Slow and
steady weight loss of 1/2 to 2 pounds per week, and not more than 3
pounds per week, is the safest way to lose weight.
To
lose weight and keep it off over time, try to make long-term changes in
your eating and physical activity habits. Choose healthy foods, such as
vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat meat and dairy products,
more often and eat just enough food to satisfy you. Try to do at least
30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity—like walking—on
most days of the week, preferably every day. To lose weight, or to
maintain weight loss, you may need to do more than 30 minutes of
moderate physical activity daily.
Top
(Original
source/ courtesy :
Weight-control Information Network http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov
)
Next article
: Tips for choosing a
weight- loss program
