The following table compares the BMI between adult men and women.
Chart from consumer.com
There are many health risks involved with obesity, and one of those health risks is coronary heart disease. According to Oliver Boss and Karl G. Hofbauer in their book Pharmacotherapy of Obesity: Options and Alternatives, they state, “For example, Wolf estimated that in the US […] 17% of coronary heart disease could be attributed to obesity” (95). According to the American Heart Association, African Americans have a higher risk of heart disease than Caucasians. Mexican Americans, American Indians and native Hawaiians are also at higher risk for heart disease than Caucasians.
African Americans have more severe high blood pressure than Caucasians and a higher risk of heart disease. Compared with Caucasians, heart disease risks are high among Mexican Americans, American Indians and native Hawaiians. This is partly due to higher rates of obesity and diabetes. (89)
Diabetes has become a major problem in America and other countries as well around the world. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), “Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.” (1). Although no one actually knows where diabetes comes from, researchers believe genetics, environmental factors (obesity) and not enough exercise are the leading causes. As stated by the ADA, “There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the population, who have diabetes” (1). That is a substantial number of people with diabetes in the United States. Out of the 23.6 million people who have diabetes 5.7 million of them have no idea they are living with the disease.
There are four types of diabetes; Type 1, Type 2, Gestational and Pre-Diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is the type of Diabetes usually diagnosed in children and young adults. With Type 1 the person’s body does not produce insulin in order to break down the sugars, starches and other foods a person eats. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. According to the ADA, “In Type 2 Diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin” (1). This is dangerous because a body needs insulin in order to produce glucose for energy. If there is not enough glucose to create energy, cells will be starved for energy and high blood glucose levels may hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves or heart. The third type of diabetes is called gestational diabetes. This is the type of diabetes most commonly found in pregnant women. The ADA states, “Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases of Gestational Diabetes in the United States each year” (2). Women who are pregnant who have a poor diet and high blood sugar (glucose) are at higher risk of getting gestational Diabetes. The fourth type of Diabetes is Pre-Diabetes. Pre-diabetes happens before a person gets Type 2 Diabetes. It is when the blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be considered Diabetes. According to the ADA, “There are 57 million people in the United States who have pre-diabetes” (3). Diabetes is a serious issue and has become an epidemic in the United States at the same time that obesity has become an epidemic, coincidence?
Another health issue related to obesity is Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea is when a person stops breathing for at least ten seconds during sleep. Men, obese people, and people over the age of 40 are most likely to be diagnosed with Sleep Apnea. There are two types of Sleep Apnea; Obstructive sleep apnea and Central sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is “The more common of the two forms of apnea, it is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep” (Smith 1). With Central sleep apnea, “Unlike OSA, the airway is not blocked but the brain fails to signal the muscles to breathe due to instability in the respiratory control center” (Smith 1).
According to the National Cancer Institute there is a link between obesity and cancer,
In 2001, experts concluded that cancers of the colon, breast (postmenopausal), endometrium (the lining of the uterus), kidney, and esophagus are associated with obesity. Some studies have also reported links between obesity and cancers of the gallbladder, ovaries, and pancreas (1).
Experts recommend overweight and obese individuals to avoid gaining extra weight and to lose weight through diet and exercise. A ten to fifteen percent body weight loss could show significant health benefits.
Another serious disease closely related to obesity is Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). NAFLD refers to a wide spectrum of liver diseases ranging from the most common, fatty liver (accumulation of fat in the liver, also known as steatosis), to Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH, fat in the liver causing liver inflammation), to cirrhosis (irreversible, advanced scarring of the liver as a result of chronic inflammation of the liver). All of the stages of Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease are now believed to be due to insulin resistance, a condition closely associated with obesity. In fact, the BMI correlates with the degree of liver damage, that is, the greater the BMI the greater the liver damage. NAFLD is observed in predominately developed countries such as the United States. Countries that were observed had a sedentary lifestyle and high calorie, sugar, and fat intake. According to Dennis Lee, “Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is currently the most common liver disease in the U.S. and worldwide, affecting estimated 10-24% of the world's population” (1).
Obese individuals are also known to have pregnancy problems. Obesity during pregnancy can cause problems not only for the mother but for the baby as well. Some common problems for the obese mother during pregnancy are Gestational Diabetes and Postpartum Infection. Obesity during pregnancy makes you more vulnerable to experiencing a difficult postpartum recovery. In particular, if you have had a cesarean-section, you are at risk for developing dangerous postpartum infections.
A complication for the baby is Macrosoma, a condition in which your baby puts on too much weight during development. This can complicate labor and delivery, making it difficult for your baby to enter and exit the birth canal. Some large babies have their shoulders injured during birth. Another complication is childhood obesity. Studies show that babies who are born to obese mothers are more likely to suffer from obesity by the time they reach the age of four. In one recent study, 29% of children born to obese mothers were also obese by the age of four, compared with only 9% of babies born to mothers of normal weight.
Along with the health problems that obesity brings, there are also physical problems. Problems such as difficulties breathing, walking or running, increased sweating, sexual performance problems, pain in the knees and back, skin conditions, arthritis and gallstones.
Some skin problems related to obesity are acanthosis nigricans, which are darkened, velvety areas of the neck and body folds, while stretching of the skin may result in stretch marks. Increased strain on the leg veins may cause fluid retention, leg swelling, rupture of superficial capillaries, varicose veins, dermatitis, and even ulcers.
There are many health risks and physical problems related to obesity, but probably the most damaging of all are the psychological effects that obesity has on an individual. Obese individuals might suffer from social insecurities and emotional suffering. Hollywood makes clear the emphasis on looks. Since looks are “very important,” obese people may become the butt of many jokes. Obese children are often ridiculed in school and many times suffer psychological damages. Obese teenagers may be hesitant to socialize with their peers since most people this age are self conscious and will likely make fun of the overweight teenager to make them feel better. People also have the tendency to view fat people as lazy and gluttonous, which might not always be true.
Another psychological effect of obesity that many people tend to overlook is the fact that many obese individuals have an eating disorder. People with bulimia binge eat and then purge by vomiting, using laxatives, or other means. Binge eating that is not followed by purging may also be considered an eating disorder and can lead to weight gain. This type of eating behavior usually contributes to feelings of shame, loneliness, poor self-esteem, and depression. A person may binge or overeat for emotional reasons, including stress, depression, and anxiety.
Diabetes is a rising problem in the United States. People are becoming heavier and heavier with all the advances in technology and the addition of fast food places. Not only are adults getting fatter, but children are as well. This is and will continue to be a major problem unless Americans can change their lifestyles in a positive way. This means eating right and exercising more in order to stay healthy. The obesity epidemic has to end soon in order for America to have a brighter tomorrow.
