There are many reasons for the uncontrolled spread of obesity resulting from a combination of causes and individual factors such as behavior and genetics. Behavior comprises your physical activity, your diet intake, and the medication you use.

As far as genetics is concerned if one of the parents is obese there are 50 percent chances that child will be obese. And when both of the parents are obese, their children have an 80 percent chance of obesity. (University of California San Francisco) With the advent of new tech and other scientific advancements, the majority of people have started following modern lifestyles and an increased reliance on technology, which is devastating for the health and wellness of the masses.

Obesity is a complex health issue that increases the risk of many health problems, including type-2 diabetes, heart disease, depression anxiety, osteoporosis, and certain types of cancers. This fact sheet will further enlighten you about the links between excess weight and many health conditions. You will also learn how reaching and maintaining a normal weight can help you and your loved ones stay healthier as you grow older.

Heart diseases and strokes:

People who are overweight or obese often have health problems like high blood pressure and high cholesterol that can lead to heart diseases. The issues that heart problem leads to include heart attack, heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina (chest pain), or abnormal heart rhythm.

These heart-related ailments are the leading causes of death in most parts of the world. You can avoid all these health issues by losing even a small amount of weight. The more you become fit the more it lowers the risk of heart disease and strokes.

Type 2 diabetes:

Type 2 diabetes is a very common type of diabetes and it has been observed that around 90% of people who have type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese.

This disease is the birthplace of heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, amputation, and blindness. When you intake more calories than your body needs and don’t burn those extra calories, your sugar level goes up and the cells that produce insulin have to work extra hard to keep blood sugar normal.

This will make these cells gradually fail. You can save yourself from such circumstances by becoming more active, eating a balanced diet, and getting adequate sleep.

Certain types of cancers:

Cancer, which is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., occurs when cells in one part of the body grow abnormally or out of control. These cells many times spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver or some other body part.

There are many shreds of evidence that gaining weight increases the risk of cancers of the colon, breast (after menopause), endometrium (the lining of the uterus), kidney, and esophagus. It is believed that fat cells release hormones that affect cell growth, leading to cancer. Some studies have also shown links between obesity and cancers of the gallbladder, ovaries, and pancreas.

Osteoarthritis disease:

As you age your bones and muscles become weak and if you are not doing some kind of physical activity, there are great chances that you will face OA diseases as old adults. OA is an ailment in which you feel pain and stiffness in your joints and affects mostly the joints of your hands, knees, hips, and lower back. People who are overweight are more vulnerable to this disease because extra weight means you are putting extra pressure on joints and cartilage, causing them to wear away. Many studies reveal that an obese person has 4-5 times more chances of knee OA as compared with a non-obese person. If you wish to circumvent this malady, you should eat healthily and regular physical activity.

The Bottom Line:

Obesity is spreading rampantly all over the world and around 13% of the total population is dealing with this epidemic. This disease leads to some malignant ailments like heart issues, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, kidney problems, some types of cancers, and osteoarthritis. The best way to live a healthful happy life is by doing regular exercise and eating mindfully. If all these reasons are good enough to bring you to a gym, buy yourself workout tank and workout shorts before signing up for an exercise class.