Obesity Symptoms & Conditions
Obesity is much more serious than simply being a few pounds overweight. If you’re carrying a large amount of excess weight on your body, there are a number of obesity-related disorders, diseases and symptoms that can be brought on or accelerated if you don’t receive effective treatment.
Obesity Can Cause:
These are the most common symptoms and signs that your weight is interfering with your general health:
- Shortness Of Breath
Apart from making it difficult to lead an active lifestyle, excess weight around the neck and chest can actually restrict airflow into your lungs. This can force you to take short, shallow breaths which compound your physical challenges and contribute to your discomfort.
- Lack Of Energy
If you aren’t able to maintain proper airflow into your lungs, you can’t get sufficient oxygen into your bloodstream. This can lead to exhaustion, lethargy and a general lack of energy no matter how much rest you get.
- Skin Conditions
If you have folds of fatty tissue throughout the body, your skin can become very easily irritated. A lack of airflow can cause these areas to remain moist, which increases the likelihood of skin infections. In addition, many individuals who struggle with their weight report chaffing between bulky areas, which can cause sores.
- Varicose Veins
Varicose veins develop when blood vessels become swollen and twisted, resulting in enlarged, blue veins that are visible underneath the skin. They most commonly occur in the legs and ankles and, although they aren’t dangerous, they are unsightly and can cause pain. Among obese individuals, these veins are partially caused by the strain of carrying excess weight.
- Irregular Menstruation
Obesity can affect almost all of your bodily functions – including menstruation. Excess fatty tissue can disrupt your hormonal balance, causing your periods to become irregular or stop all together.
Health Risks Associated With Obesity
Unfortunately, there are a number of serious health risks that can develop or worsen as a direct result of being obese. They include:
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol and tricylcerides
- Metabolic syndrome, which is a condition in which you have high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol and high triglycerides
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Cancer, commonly of the rectum, colon, prostate, breast, ovaries, cervix and uterus
- Gallbladder disease
- Sleep apnea
- Depression
- Female infertility
- Erectile dysfunction and other sexual health issues
- Osteoarthritis
- Fatty liver disease
As you can see, obesity has a dramatic impact on your overall health. As such, it’s important to treat it as soon as possible – either through diet and exercise or weight loss surgery. Your health, quality of life and future depend on it. Contact us for a consultation!
