Other Health Issues & Obesity1,2
Being overweight or obese can put your health at risk. In addition to the well-known health issues linked to obesity – high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and even some cancers – there are other health issues that overweight or obese people are more likely to face. These include:
- "Pre-diabetes"
- Depression
- Liver Disease
- Incontinence
- Increased risk when having surgery
- Premature death
Being overweight or obese can also:
- Reduce your endurance and vigor
- Limit your mobility
- Make it more difficult to stay involved socially
- Increase the number of health challenges you deal with daily
If you are facing health issues because you are overweight or obese, you can take positive steps to minimize your risks or get the condition under control. The most important actions to take include:
- Working with your doctor to take stock of your condition
- Managing your weight
- Becoming more active
Reference
1. National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Web site, accessed September 13, 2011 at http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/health_risks.htm
2. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General Web site, accessed September 13, 2011 at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/fact_consequences.htm.