CHAPTER 2: Consequences of Obesity
Complications and Related Diseases
We are constantly told how bad obesity is. Well, let's just repeat why one more time.
Obesity is so bad for us because it is directly and indirectly related to so many diseases.
1. Coronary Diseases - Experts say that obesity is one of the leading causes of heart disease. The fat deposits around the heart continue to burden the heart muscles forcing them to work harder. This additional workload increases the individual's chance of various heart diseases. The fat deposits accumulated around the abdominal region also increase the likelihood of heart disease, as well as, diabetes. Excess fat accumulation in the veins and arteries imposes an obstacle for smooth blood-circulation. Severe capillary troubles are the eventual result as blood cells clogs and capillaries break. If this happens in the brain, it is called a stroke and it can result in permanent paralyses and death. Obese people have a 75% higher chance of suffering a stroke than other people.
2. Diabetes - We have already explained diabetes. So, let's just say that the correlation between obesity and diabetes is so close that many experts regard these two as Siamese Twins. The correlation is approximately 75% of diabetic are also obese. Diabetes is called “the disease of diseases” because it is a major contributor to so many diseases. Diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney disease, heart disease, amputations, and infections. Obesity and diabetes make a lethal combination.
3. Liver Diseases - Obese people often develop fatty livers. Fatty livers can develop into liver cirrhosis the hardening of the liver. Also, these individuals more readily have gallstone problems. Medically this is called cholelithiasis. In other words, obesity can often develop into fatal liver disease.
4. Pregnancy Related Disorders - Hormonal imbalance caused by obesity may bring about serious pregnancy related disorders. Also a woman's pregnancy may cause a disruption her hormonal balance that leads to excessive weight gain during the pregnancy. These disorders are not difficult to understand intuitively if we consider how many hormones are intricately interrelated during the whole process of pregnancy. Obesity is never good however obesity becomes particularly harmful during pregnancy. Also, some women never regain their hormonal balance after pregnancy. They will find it extremely difficult to loss their additional pregnancy poundage.
5. Bones and Joints -; Being overweight will creates pain in the lower back, knees, and ankles. These organs are created to sustain only a certain amount of weight. Obviously, constant and excessive weight can cause problems in these joints. Experts believe that many forms of arthritis are caused or worsened by the person being overweight.
We could continue to provide more examples as there is a very long list of complications and diseases resulting from obesity. However, we believe you understand our point on the grave danger of being overweight.
Obesity's Affect on Social and Sexual Life
Even though beauty and attractiveness are quite a subjective matter, obesity is not seen as an improvement to anyone's looks.
It may not be politically correct to state that being overweight is not attractive but that is why there is such a demand for weight loss products. Why do people feel less attractive when they are overweight? Some concrete physical reasons we will provided. Why do people easily lose their confidence if they feel they are overweight? There are many theories why our confidence is affected by how we perceive our physical appearance. Finally, why does being overweight seriously affect a person's social and sexual life in so many ways? Regardless of the theories, the general consensus is that being overweight puts a large strain on our confidence and can lead to many behavior changes. These changes in thoughts and behavior impact on our social and sexual lives.
People feel less attractive for many reasons. There are many physical reasons which will cause a person to feel unattractive. Obese people's physique appears very soft and slouched down. Since fat sags, men's chest and belly sinks down. Females suffer from the sagging in the lower abdominal, hips, and thighs. When fat is accumulated in the skin layer, it induces skin expansion. If skin is expanded beyond its capacity, skin rips. In areas where fat is easily accumulated such as, lower abdominal, hips, thighs, and calves the skin is most prone to rips first. It is wrong to think that only pregnant women have this skin-tearing problem. Many overweight men and women suffer even more.
Obese individuals also have a greater body odor problem. All areas where flesh meets flesh such as the groin, arm pits, and toes can start to smell. Air is not able to circulate in such areas and skin diseases such as eczema and athlete's feet occur, leading to odor. The problem becomes more serious especially in the summer time. Sooner or later, obese people themselves become very conscious of this odor problem. Naturally, individuals suffering from the above physical consequences of obesity can begin to lose confidence in themselves. They develop a very negative self-image in themselves and it starts to dramatically affect their thoughts and behavior.
For example, let's examine how obesity can affect teenagers. Teenagers who are very overweight develop oversized knees and ankles to support their weight. This leads to bad walking postures and unattractive physiques. Overtime they develop very negative self-images. Also their learning ability at school can be affected. When too much fat becomes stored in the blood system, blood circulation is aggravated. The poor blood circulation can cause drowsiness, fatigue, and the appearance of laziness. If the blood flow to the brain is also aggravated or slowed, the teenager's memory capacity may start to weaken and concentration becomes more difficult. Naturally, many of these teenagers start to avoid or limit relationships with friends and their school life also suffers.
Many adults also suffer from serious social setbacks due to their obesity. Quite often they are discriminated in some manner at work because obesity is often regarded as a sign of laziness. This seems to raise the standard for obese individuals. They had better ensure their work rate does not fall or they will become labeled as non-productive. However, if their confidence level drops, they may begin avoiding social and business contacts with co-workers. They may feel less confident in their ability to handle their work stress. This in turn further aggravates other aspects of their life (home life or physical fitness). This is yet another possible loop in obesity's vicious cycle. Obesity makes people lose confidence, they go out less, less become even less physically active, they eat more when depressed and, they become even more obese.
Obesity does not help a person's sex life either. Fat accumulated in sexually sensitive spots usually reduces their sensitivity to stimulation. Consequently, obese people lose interest in sex. Also, their poor physical stamina is also a further deterrent to their sex life. Since they are more likely to be tired, they are less interested in sex. Sometimes the individuals sexual confidence is a deterring factor to sex. They are more conscious of how their partner may be reacting to their weight. Sometimes serious cases of fat deposits may even make intercourse itself impossible, as the sexual organs are planted too deeply in the flesh. Through these and other processes, obese people become more and more distanced from sex. Male impotency is very prevalent among obese males. Especially, for a male diabetic, almost 50% of them become sexually impotent within 5-7 years. Erections become impossible due to the capillaries being blocked and other nerve damage. Thus being overweight can have a profound effect on how both we and others view ourselves. This in turn, impacts on our on our social and sexual lives.
The Vicious Cycle of Obesity
Obesity does not heal itself. Once the underlying mechanisms of obesity start, they seem to continue and intensify unless something is done. For example, most statisticians understand the difficulty of impeding or correcting obesity when it begins. Thus the most important statistical factor to explain future obesity levels is previous obesity levels. They understand that obesity intensifies its hold, and that once obesity is in the system, it persists. We also realize that becoming older does not seem to improve our obesity. This is a large concern since the rate of obesity in children is growing at a dangerous pace. Left alone, obesity does not go away and it usually gets worse. Therefore we must be very concerned. It may start out as a very mild and simple thing. People may tell you, “don't worry, you are still OK”. You yourself may want to believe it too. But, sooner or later, your condition becomes more severe and serious. That is why it is so dangerous.
There are a few loops through which obesity intensifies itself. Insulin resistance, appetite induced by partial malnutrition, activity aversion, etc. Something really sensible and really fundamental should be done to the basic energy metabolism. Otherwise, obesity gets worse.
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