Top 5 Health risks from being overweight

Most of us by now realize that being overweight is not good for our health and well being. While most non essential body fat is bad for you, new research is now showing that where you store that fat is more important than how much total fat you have. Below I will outline the 5 major health risks associated to being overweight.

Heart Disease and Stroke

Heart Disease is one of the leading causes of death among men in North America. Women are not immune from the ravages of this disease, their numbers are increasing at an alarming rate. Over 1 million Men and Women in North America die annually from this disease. Millions more live everyday with some form heart disease.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol and excessive abdominal fat are among the leading risk factors for developing heart disease or suffering a stroke. The news isn't all bad though. Even a moderate weight reduction of 10-15 Lbs can decrease your risks significantly.

To learn more about how to treat or prevent heart disease visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation

Cancer

Many studies have linked being overweight to the increased risk of developing certain types of cancers. In men those were cancers of the liver, gallbladder, colon and even prostate. In women the risks were higher for Ovarian, gallbladder, breast and cancer of the cervix.

According to the American Cancer Society cancer risks can be reduced by getting your weight under control. For more information on Cancer treatments and prevention visit www.cancer.org or www.cancer.ca

Diabetes

There are 2 main types of Diabetes Type 1 occurs when a persons immune system attacks the insulin producing cells in the pancreas. This results in little or no insulin production. People with type 1 diabetes need to take daily insulin injections to allow the glucose in the blood stream to be used. Only 5 to 10 of diabetes sufferers have Type 1. Some symptoms can be, but are not limited to increased thirst and urination, weight loss, blurrly vision, and fatigue.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95 percent of all cases. This affects mostly overweight/obese people. Unlike type 1 the pancreas usually produces enough insulin but the body cannot effectively use it. The result is a condition known as insulin resistance. A healthy diet and regular physical activity have been shown to reduce or even reverse insulin resistance.

Diabetes can be a devastating condition and increases your odds of developing heart disease it can also lead to blindness and kidney failure as well as the need for limb amputations.

Treatment options can be found at www.diabetes.ca as always it is extremely important to contact your health care provider if you are concerned that you may have or at risk of developing diabetes. The earlier it is diagnosed the sooner you can get treatment for it.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a condition where are a person actually stops breathing during sleep, for short periods of time. Some people with this condition stop anywhere from dozens to hundreds of times per night. This can lead to unwanted daytime effects like drowsiness, lack of concentration and in rare case heart failure.

Why are overweight people at risk? Most of the problems occur due to the increased fat around the neck and throat area. The extra weight narrows the airway and increase the risk chances of a breathing stoppage. Inflammation caused by excessive body fat can also contribute this condition.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a joint disorder that affects a large number of overweight and obese people. The cartilage in the lower back, knee, and hip joints slowly gets worn away. Carrying extra weight places a great deal of pressure on these joints.

Osteoarthritis can be very painful and make even the simplest daily tasks unbearable. Losing weight can lessen the effects if you have it or prevent it if you don't. See your health care provider for treatment options.

Visit the Arthritis Society for more information.