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By Melissa Tennen, HealthAtoZ writer
Those extra pounds can damage just about every system in your body. Take heart. Some of this damage is reversible or can at least be slowed by just losing 10 to 20 pounds.
If you are overweight or obese, you are at higher risk for:
- Type 2 diabetes.
- Heart disease and stroke.
- Cancer.
- Osteoarthritis.
- Gallstones.
- Infertility.
- Sleep apnea.
Type 2 diabetes
Ninety percent of people who have type 2 diabetes are overweight.
Scientists suspect the link may be found in a type of fat called visceral fat stored in the stomach area - that potbelly. Excess fat means there are higher levels of free fatty acids in your blood. These acids may affect how well insulin works, producing insulin resistance that could lead to type 2 diabetes.
If you have diabetes, obesity makes drug treatment less effective and makes it more complicated for you to control your condition.
Heart disease and stroke
Too much body fat, particularly if it's at your waist, increases your chances for heart disease and stroke, even if you don't have other health risk factors. That's partly because your heart is working harder, causing it to enlarge. A diet with a lot of fatty, salty, high-cholesterol foods combined with an inactive lifestyle will increase cholesterol, stiffen arteries and raise blood pressure.
Osteoarthritis
This is a chronic condition affecting your joints when cartilage wears away. Cartilage is the part of the joint that cushions the ends of bones. When cartilage breaks down, bones rub painfully against each other. Extra weight puts more stress on your knees, hips and lower back.
Gallstones
The heavier someone is, the higher the risk for gallstones. Gallstones are masses of cholesterol that form in the gallbladder.
Researchers think obese people may produce high levels of cholesterol. That causes the gallbladder to produce bile containing more cholesterol than it can dissolve, allowing gallstones to form.
People who are obese may also have enlarged gallbladders that don't work as well.
Some studies show that people with a lot of fat around the stomach area may have a greater risk for developing gallstones than those who carry fat around their hips and thighs.
Infertility
Abdominal obesity is linked to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a cause of infertility in women. PCOS is usually characterized by irregular menstrual periods, excessive hair growth and obesity; and these problems are associated with ovarian cysts. Women with PCOS often have insulin resistance that can be treated successfully with the drug metformin. Obesity itself can also affect a woman's menstrual cycle.
Pregnancy complications
Obesity during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage. The mother has a higher chance of high blood pressure and gestational diabetes. Obesity can also complicate labor and delivery. Obese women are more likely to have children with birth defects.
Pregnant women should never go on a diet or attempt to lose weight without first talking to their doctor or health care provider.
Sleep apnea
Obesity, particularly in the upper body, is the most significant risk factor for sleep apnea. About 60 percent to 70 percent of people with the condition are obese. Sleep apnea is diagnosed when a person stops breathing for short periods during sleep. The heavier you are, the greater your risk for sleep apnea.
Cancer
Obesity may raise cancer risk because fat cells create a form of estrogen called estradiol, which encourages cells to divide faster. This increases the chances of a random genetic error, possibly leading to cancer. Also, fat around the abdomen may increase insulin and insulin-like growth factors in the blood, which may increase cancer risk.
Obese women have a 50 percent higher risk for breast cancer compared to normal weight women, and obese men have a 40 percent higher chance of colon cancer. Obesity raises risks of cancers of the kidney, pancreas, rectum, esophagus and liver.
What you can do
- Aim for a healthy weight and lose weight slowly. Safe weight loss is 1/2 pound to 2 pounds a week. Don't go on fad diets. Losing as little as 5 percent of your body weight lowers your risk for some of these diseases.
- Be active. Exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
- Eat smarter. Make two-thirds of your plate fruits and vegetables. Read nutrition labels and learn portion sizes. Choose foods that are low in fat and salt. Aim for five servings of fruits and vegetables everyday.
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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