Harms of Obesity
Harms of Obesity
Obesity is currently considered a significant risk factor for coronary heart disease, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. There's a saying, "Every inch added to your waistline shortens your lifespan." Studies have shown that for every 1.22 cm increase in waist circumference, the overall mortality risk increases by 19%. Also, for every 1.32 cm increase in waist circumference, the risk of cardiovascular mortality increases by 33%.
Fatty Liver: Normally, most of the body's organs are in the abdomen, and a small amount of visceral fat can protect these organs. However, excessive visceral fat in abdominal obesity can accumulate in the liver, leading to fatty liver, severely affecting liver function.
Diabetes: Obesity itself opposes the insulin secreted in the body, exacerbating insulin resistance. This makes it harder to control blood sugar levels.
High Blood Lipids: Abdominal obesity easily causes hormonal imbalances, making visceral fat easier to break down. This increases the fat content in the blood, leading to high blood lipids.
Atherosclerosis: Metabolic disorders can accelerate the formation of atherosclerosis. Cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and cerebral infarction can silently occur.
Increased Risk of Various Cancers: Recent studies show a positive correlation between abdominal obesity and the incidence of 18 different types of cancer, such as gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and biliary tract cancer.
Gout: Metabolic disturbances, insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalances caused by obesity can lead to high uric acid levels, triggering pain in joints like toes and legs, leading to gout. Surveys indicate that the incidence of gout in obese individuals is more than 50% higher than in the general population.
Hypertension: Individuals with abdominal obesity have higher levels of leptin in their plasma, which stimulates renal sympathetic nerve activity and arterial blood pressure, leading to hypertension.
Gynecological Disorders: Extremely obese women tend to secrete excessive estrogen. When there's an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone, it can cause edema and obesity. Moreover, female obesity can easily lead to polycystic ovary syndrome, irregular menstruation, infertility, and even affect pregnancy, seriously endangering women's health.
Heart Diseases: Obesity affects the heart's ability to pump blood and nutrients. Compared to healthy individuals, obese people are much more likely to suffer from ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, and congestive heart failure. If one's body weight exceeds 30% of the standard weight, the risk of coronary heart disease significantly increases.
