| Morbid
obesity brings with it an increased risk for a shorter life expectancy.
For individuals whose weight exceeds twice their ideal body weight (that’s
about 2 to 6% of the U.S. population), the risk of an early death is doubled
compared to non-obese individuals. The risk of death from diabetes
or heart attack is 5 to 7 times greater.
Obesity-related
health conditions are health conditions that can significantly reduce your
life expectancy. A partial list of some of the more common conditions
follows:
-
Type II
diabetes
-
High blood
pressure/heart disease
-
Osteoarthritis
of weight-bearing joints
-
Sleep
apnea/ Respiratory problems
-
Gastroesophageal
reflux/ Heartburn
-
Gallbladder
disease
-
Depression
-
Infertility
-
Skin breakdown
-
Swollen
legs/ Skin ulcers
-
Urinary
stress incontinence
-
Menstrual
irregularities
-
Lower
extremity venous stasis
-
Idiopathic
intracranial hypertension
-
Dyslipidemia
-
Pulmonary
embolus
-
Pancreatitis
Perhaps
just as devastating are the potential for social, psychological, and economic
effects of morbid obesity. If you are morbidly obese, you are at an increased
risk of experiencing these types of problems in your life as well. |
