While people do not technically die of obesity, between 100,000 to 400,000 Americans die from the diseases that come with it each year. Even at the conservative estimates, it is still a massive death toll; much higher than other causes of death which get a lot more press attention.
Keep in mind that the heart must work 24/7 to pump blood to supply and move this extra weight, and there is no replacing a heart if it fails. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US, and those with a BMI of 25 or greater are twice as likely as anyone to die from it.
Since over 80% of people who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes are also overweight, there is a clear link between obesity and diabetes. Furthermore, it appears that being overweight increases the risk of some types of cancers, such as that of the kidneys and colon.
Those are just a few of the fatal diseases that have been linked to being obese. Diseases which are usually not life threatening, but greatly affect quality of life, such as Osteoarthritis, are also a much greater risk for those who are overweight.
Those who are obese need to need to do something about it if they are serious about living a long life. While there is a ton of information available on the Internet, it is advisable to check with a physician.
The majority of the information you can find on the Internet and other places is great, but there is a lot put out for the sole purpose of selling weight loss products. If something sounds too good to be true, then it is probably best to avoid it. Unfortunately, there are no quick, easy fixes.
Awareness of the dangers of obesity should be motivation enough for people to lose weight. If you are concerned about your own weight, then you should check your BMI today, and start taking immediate action if necessary.
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Tags: disease, health, health risks, illness, lose weight, obesity, overweight, Weight Loss
