ISALC, Lewis and Clark College

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Obesity: A Hidden Killer Among Us
by Anonymous

Can you believe that a high-fat diet is responsible for 300,000 deaths every year? There
are other better known threats that have much lower mortality rates. Alcohol kills
100,000 persons, guns 35,000, auto accidents 25,000, drug addiction 20,000 (How high
fat diet, 1999)! Those are shocking statistics that give an idea of how dangerous
American alimentary habits are. More and more people tend to abuse food, not
understanding the severe consequences they surely face if they don't stop swallowing
more calories than they actually burn. There are several reasons for what today is
considered a real disease. Dr. Jim Johnson, medical editor of the Obesity Study, says that
what causes obesity is an interaction between genetic-psycho-socioeconomic and cultural
factors. Overeating affects almost 18% of Americans, meaning that 1/5 of the people are
obese (Johnson, 1999). It is interesting to explore, not only the terrible and scary
consequences of a high-fat diet, but also the reasons that bring so many people to eat a lot
more than they need in the first place.

It would be easy to blame depression or emotional problems as the main reason for eating
too much, but there are deeper factors to take into consideration. Even though it's true
that some people try to compensate for sentimental delusions or personal failings with
exaggerated amounts of food, it wouldn't be the best idea to advise every obese person
with the elementary concept of "eat less and do more physical activity."(Liebman, 1998,
p.1). Dr. Walker S. Carlos Poston II, assistant professor in the department of medicine at
the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, continues saying, " I don't think it's (losing
weight) simply a matter of people shutting their mouth." (1998, p. 3). Sometimes there
are biological, genetic, or cultural reasons that are hard to eliminate even with great
determination in following a diet. In fact, certain people easily see food as a sign of
economic welfare. Maybe the memory of the lack of an appropriate diet is too vivid in
their mind; therefore, they don't care about being overweight. In Arlington, Va.,, Dr.
Denise Bruner thinks that this is the case for many Afro-American women. In fact, some
African-American women who have participated in Dr. Bruner's study showed that
almost 50% of them, not only are not concerned about their overeating, but also think that
some extra pounds are a sign of beauty. Their companions also reinforce this philosophy,
in fact, "they do not hesitate to say that they like their women with a little meat on their
bones." (Why so many, 1998, p. 2).

It is clear at this point that there are several reasons for abusing food. Moreover, Dr.
Bruner thinks that one of the explanations that most helps to understand why so many
people weigh even 30 pounds more than what is considered normal, is the almost total
absence of exercise in their lives. Nowadays it is becoming easier and easier to avoid any
kind of physical activity: just think about cars, garage door openers, elevators, cordless
phones, computers, and many more (1998). Even though, according to Dr. Tim Johnson,
Americans spend 33 billion dollars every year in fitness centers and on fitness supplies
(1999) still the result is that only 25% of Americans do regular exercise (Why so many,
1998). On the other hand, in an interview for the Center for Science in the Public Interest,
Dr. Kelly Brownell says that the main motive for the spread of this plague of obesity is
that "Americans are exposed to a toxic food environment." (Liebman,1998, p.2) and they
have easy access to high-fat food "low in cost, heavily promoted and good tasting."
(1998, p.3). Thanks to the development of so many fast foods and the strong competition
for bigger portions among restaurants, it is becoming more difficult for people to resist
the temptation of not considering a better deal buying a super-value meal. Moreover, this
junk food is available everywhere, systematically bombing ingenuous consumers. Dr.
Brownell continues saying, "I have asked myself whether Joe Camel is different than
Ronald McDonald. One could claim that they both encourage children to adopt habits
that could be bad for their health." (1998, p.7).

Most of the doctors seem to be agreeing with the concept that people don't really
understand how their bad culinary habits seriously threat their lives. Therefore, even
when they decide to lose weight they usually do it for vanity reasons without thinking
that "being overweight should be a health problem first and an aesthetic problem second"
(Why so many, 1998, p.2). Obesity is the cause of almost as many deaths as smoking. It
is also responsible of several other health hazards like heart diseases, strokes, diabetes,
high blood pressure, and cancer. It is clear that people who overeat have a low life
expectancy.

Since obesity affects people in their early childhood, it is interesting to know that they
experience not only health problems, but also psychological repercussions. A recent
study published in Pediatrics concluded that obese children suffer discrimination in their
early childhood. Those children become an easy cruel jokes target, and the study's author
William H. Dietz says "children ranging in age from 6 to 10 years already associate
obesity with a variety of negative characteristic such as laziness and sloppiness."(1998,
p.2). The result is that they will tend to isolate themselves or they will find younger
playmates (1998).

Nowadays obesity is a very serious disease that affects 1/5 of the U.S. population.
Moreover, this statistic will soon increase if we don't pay enough attention to its causes.
Psychological stress, lack of physical activity, and easy access to food, all together are a
lethal combination that brings many people to overeat. The real problem is that the
seriousness of obesity is underestimated and not sufficiently seen as a threat to our health.
It would be helpful to keep in mind what William Castelli, chief of the Framingham
Heart Study, recently said, "Most Americans who have chronic health problems, would
not have them if they ate a low-fat diet." (1999, p.3).

Taking a look at the available statistics on the effects of obesity should be enough to let
us think more about our exercising and eating habits. Too serious are the effects that we
may face if we don't change our daily approach to life. Moreover, research shows that
obesity should be considered as a serious health issue, not, like often happens, as a beauty
problem. We should be worried about our size not for pure vanity, but essentially for our
physical well being.

References
Dietz, W. H. (1998). Health consequence of obesity in youth: childhood predictors of
adult disease. Pediatrics, 101 (3), 518-525. Retrieved October 26, 1999 from Infotrac.

How high-fat diets cause obesity and other serious health hazards. (1999). Retrieved
October 26, 1999 from the World Wide Web at
http://www.obesity.com/health_library/satis/satis_2_hifat.html

Johnson, T. (1999, October 27 7:15 AM). Obesity Study. ABC News.

Liebman, B. (1998). The pressure to eat: why we're getting fatter. Nutrition Action
Healthletter, 25 (6), 3-5. Retrieved October 26, 1999 from Infotrac.

Why so many Americans are overweight. (1998). Jet, 94 (4), 54-56. Retrieved October
26, 1999 from Infotrac.

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Created by: krauss@lclark.edu

Updated: 11/14/99
What are some topic ideas for a cause and
effect essay?
Topic Ideas for An Essay on Cause And Effect:

1. The Time Factor: An event in the past may have an effect in the future. That effect
may itself be the cause of other events. The classic example is the butterfly in the
Amazon fluttering its wings and causing an alteration to the flow and intensity of air
currents which over time results in a hurricane devastating a Pacific Island group.

2. The Human Factor: Human behaviour is influenced by nurture and nature. This
means that although someone is born with certain genetic traits and abilities, types of
environment and availability of opportunities can enhance or restrict their performance in
all or any area of life. Highly intelligent people are often the targets of abuse which
causes them to disfunction unless compensated for in counteractive ways.

3. The Metaphysical Factor: There is ample evidence that the physical state of existence
is not the sum total of all realities. Without delving into the misguided practices of fake
psychics and mystical fanatics it is possible to identify spiritual forces as being the cause
of somethings and to evaluate the effects produced. Whilst a teenager travelling home
from a rock concert late at night on a country road, asleep as a back seat passenger in a
car whose driver and other passengers had also fallen asleep, I suddenly had a vivid
dream of a luminous angel urgently informing me that if I didn't wake up and steer our
vehicle to the left it would crash into an oncoming truck. I immediately woke and saw
headlights directly in front of us, so shouting "Left, Left", I reached over to the steering
wheel and turned our vehicle out of the path of a large truck and trailer unit which just
missed us as it roared past. I am thankful to God and my guardian angel for being the
intervening cause which produced the averting effect.

Stereotypes and the Effects of Obesity

As more and more Americans are joining the ranks of the "fat people," medical scientists
and sociologists are collaborating to find the causes and stop the trend.

Obesity is on the rise. Blaming fast food outlets and legislating warning labels about fat
content may or may not stem the increase of a debilitating condition that leads to
hypertension, osteoarthritis, heart disease and other serious health threats. Weight loss is
a challenge that goes beyond merely warning people about the fat content of a
cheeseburger and fries.

And if you think that the fat and jolly stereotype has disappeared in favor of the thin and
beautiful as the happiest people in the land, think again. Those pencil-thin models on the
runways aren't smiling. They just have a different type of food disorder.

People's Attitudes About Fat

When we were kids, we didn't think of Santa Claus as a man with a problem. In today's
terms, the big fat man in the red suit has proportions that would deem him "a heart attack
waiting to happen." Ho, ho, ho.

Blame it on Mrs. Claus. She probably isn't feeding him a balanced diet. Blame it on
Rudolph and his buddies. If Santa were out walking off the fat instead of sitting on his
ample backside in the sleigh, he'd be getting a good workout and burning those stubborn
calories. And finally, blame it on Santa Sr. and his wife: they're the people who probably
gave poor Santa all those fat genes.

All you thin people take note: when you tell obese people that both diet and exercise are
all that's needed for weight loss, remember that leaping out of bed to go running isn't
likely when you're 50 pounds or more overweight.

Obesity is a Vicious Circle

Fat people don't need to be reminded that they have a problem. Overweight people are
rarely happy about their obesity. We have mirrors and bathroom scales like other people
do.

Fat people also have a sluggish metabolism that stores fat on purpose. Humans have
dieted for thousands of years and our bodies have become efficient machines, storing fat
for those long periods of starvation.

Modern science has only begun to understand the complex interrelationship among the
factors that contribute to obesity in some people: high fat diets, depression, genetic
causes, cultural effects, hormonal issues and lifestyle factors. They have yet to identify
simple ways to help people break out of the vicious circle of weight gain and poor self-
esteem.

Causes of Obesity
Not all people who are overweight have exactly the same problem. Some women in their
fifties and sixties have a thyroid problem that slows their metabolic rate and causes the
fat to pile on. Some people have been fat all their lives. Some people gain weight when
they quit smoking. Other people gain extra fat pounds from a sedentary job or lifestyle.
Effects of Obesity
Our culture tends to label people, and the "fat people" label assumes that overweight
people are gluttons who have become fat because they are too lazy to exercise. While
being fat was once seen as a sign of wealth and comfort, people now tend to assume that
obese people gorge on pizza, cheeseburgers and ice cream and they deserve to be fat.

More than ever, obesity has become an issue among young children and adolescents. The
cycle of shame and weight gain begins early as peers taunt the "fat kid" in the class.
Sadly, some teens deal with their anguish by committing suicide. Others grow up to join
the ranks of people who fight fat all their lives. More stereotypes flourish: "fat people
raise fat kids" and "fat kids become fat adults."

Obesity affects more than health. These are some of the effects of obesity: poor health,
guilt, self-loathing, embarrassment, low energy, and social isolation. They are among the
topics that will be discussed on this site.

There are many other effects—and being fat and jolly isn't one of them.

This section is divided into multiple articles, covering:

Cause and Effect Essay # 105366 :: Childhood Obesity in the United States
Buy and instantly download this paper now
An analysis of the factors that are influencing the increase in childhood obesity in the United
States.
Written in 2008; 2,156 words; 4 sources; APA; $ 67.95
Paper Summary:
This paper discusses the increasing problem of obesity in the United States, particularly
among children. It discusses a variety of the cultural factors that influence young people's
eating and exercise habits. The paper looks at the culture of food that surrounds children in
today's America and the important role that food plays in the growth and acculturation of
young children.
From the Paper:
"Childhood obesity is an increasing problem in the United States. A variety of cultural factors
influence young people's eating and exercise habits. In the multicultural atmosphere of
modern day America, children from minority groups are frequently raised in circumstances of
poverty where parents are not always present, and television and other media take the place
of strong role models. Television advertising is a prime culprit in shaping children's eating
habits in less than desirable ways. Commercials encourage children to be impulse buyers who
prefer sweet and satisfying foods to those that are wholesome and nutritious. Television
advertisements encourage snacking and both discourage and take away from formal mealtime
settings. Families that eat together are also families teach young people how, what, and when
to eat. Parents who spend time with their children are also more likely to see that their
children get some exercise, play physically, and in other ways learn good habits that will serve
them well as adults. The eating and exercise habits that are inculcated during childhood can
have long lasting repercussions throughout adulthood. For these repercussions to be good, the
habits themselves must be good. Adults must take the time to be good examples in their
children's lives, and to consider what it is that children should learn. Cultural values such as
freedom of choice and consumerist hyper-individualism may serve their purposes in some
facets of contemporary society, but they will not necessarily prevent children from becoming
obese. Parents and guardians must learn to consider the food choices and food lessons that
affect their children. They must help their children understand these lessons and so live better
and happier lives, free of the problems of childhood obesity."
Tags: food, nutrition, overweight, habits

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http://bhayes1220.blogspot.com/2007/10/c
ause-and-effect-obesity.html

Thursday, October 18, 2007

Cause and Effect 1st Draft- Obesity
The numbers do not lie, according to the National Institute of Diabetes
68% of America is either overweight or obese. By definition, a person is
obese when their body has enormous proportions of fat, concentrated
mainly around the abdomen. Obesity has continued to plaque the
United States year after year. Obesity increases a person’s risk for
diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke and cardiovascular diseases.
Obesity has no preference when it comes to color or gender. Age is not
a factor either, because of technology and other outside factors, child
obesity has increased at alarming rates. Although the United States
has the largest obese population in the world, the daily convenience of
the American lifestyle causes this condition because of the affect that
fast food has on the body, the lack of physical activity and the lack of
knowledge concerning a healthy way of life. When it comes to food,
convenience is not always a benefit but a hindrance to your body.

As children, we were taught the four basic food groups: fruit, Legumes,
whole grains, and vegetables. The United States Department of
Agriculture as implemented a food pyramid. The new food groups are
grains, vegetables, fruits, oils, milk and meat & beans. It is
recommended to consume these foods in certain portions but with the
fast pace life that most of America leads eating according the food
pyramid is easier said than done. With the high pace lives that
Americans lead, cooking duties have been relinquish to line cooks at
restaurants like McDonalds, Hardees, and Carl’s Jr. All of which offer a
large variety of foods, from cheeseburgers to salads. The daily
recommend caloric intake for an adult is about 1940 calories for a
women and 2550 calories for a man (plus or minus 200 depending on
activity level) depending on your resource. The process of burning
these calories is very complicated. To sum the process up, the body
only needs the recommend about of calories, the excess is stored as
fat, which can lead to obesity. If a person were to have a cheeseburger
meal at Hardees for lunch, which includes a cheeseburger, large fries
and a large Coke-a-cola the amount of calories consumed would total
1350 calories. For women, that is more than ¾ their caloric intake for
the day and for a man it’s more than ½ their caloric intake. That does
not include breakfast; dinner or any snacking that has been done.
Children fare no better then their parents when it comes to fast food.
For children ages 4 to 6, their daily caloric intake is 1800 calories. Feed
a child a cheeseburger Happy meal from McDonalds and they have
consumed 710 calories in one meal, that is nearly ½ their daily intake.
Remember the body processes what it need the rest is stored as fat.
The nutritional value of fast food may contribute to obesity, but a
person’s activity level plays just as big a role in this epidemic.

Technology has changed the way the world operates. With the
invention of the Internet, anything a person desires is just a click away.
From grocery shopping, to writing letters, if a person has a computer it
can be done. Television, video games and other electronic devices
have replace imagination and outside activity for both adults and
children. Child obesity rates have increased year after year because
children no longer go outside to play after school, instead they stay
inside and play Xbox or Play Station for hours, or they sit and watch
television shows such as Sponge Bob. Technology has affected adult
activity levels as well, social chat rooms, online gaming and surfing the
internet as taken the places of interaction with their children. Families
no longer go to parks and play; they stay inside and remain inactive. It
is recommended that a person take part in at least 30 minutes of
physical activity every day to remain healthy. This activity can include
walking, running, jumping; anything that increases your heart rate.
Physical activity can reduce excess body fat caused by overeating;
reducing the chances of obesity. The reduction of excess body fat
increases the chance of a longer healthier life. Not only can physical
activity help to decrease the number of obese Americans, just the
basic knowledge about a healthy lifestyle is just as beneficial.

Although there are hundreds maybe even thousands of informative

books, magazines and web sites about healthy eating and exercise,
most people find them intimidating. The pictures of the perfect models,
the complicated formulas used and the acrobatic exercise moves
needed to stay healthy can leave a person feeling less then capable of
what they read. This also increase a person chances of becoming
obese because. The information that is available on healthy lifestyles is
complicated and plentiful but is necessary to maintain a healthy life
and reduce obesity in America.

The lifestyles of Americans have contributed to the alarming numbers

of obese people in the Unites States. The want for convenience has
caused a decline in the activity levels of parents and children alike. The
lack of knowledge pertaining to the affects of fast food consumed, the
specifics of physical activity and an overall knowledge of a healthy
lifestyle all contribute the obesity epidemic. If Americas do not find a
way to control their lifestyles, health care cost will increase to an
uncontrollable amount.

http://www.annecollins.com/obesity/causes-
of-obesity.htm
General Causes of Modern Obesity

Thr risk factors and contributory causes of obesity - a disease of excess body fat
characterised by a body mass index of 30+ - include a range of well-documented
genetic and environmental factors. But the relative effect of these causes on the
development of obesity, remains unclear. Before examining possible causes, note
that obesity, especially severe clinical obesity like morbid or malignant obesity,
carries greater risks of morbidity and premature mortality than simple overweight.

Problem 1: Diagnosing Causes For Sudden Rise in Obesity Levels

Any explanation of the root causes of the current obesity epidemic must account for
its sudden appearance. Six million American adults are now morbidly obese (BMI
40+), almost twice as high as 1980 severe obesity rates, while another 9.6 million
have a BMI of 35-40. The percentage of overweight children 6-11 has nearly doubled
since the early 1980's. (Source: US Census 2000; NHANES III data estimates). Thus
genetic causes are unlikely to be significant. Because while a predisposition to
obesity can be inherited, the fact that obesity has increased so much in the last few
decades appears to discount genetics as a major main cause. Also, the fact that each
succeeding generation is heavier than the last indicates that changes in our
environment are playing the key role.

Problem 2: Separating Genetic Causes From Environmental Causes

Obesity tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic link. Yet families also share
common dietary, physical exercise, attitude and lifestyle habits that may also
contribute to obesity. Separating these from purely genetic factors is not an easy
statistical or diagnostic task.

Environmental Causes of Obesity

In view of the sudden rise in weight levels - which is a worldwide trend as reflected
in the new word "globesity" - environmental factors must be the prime cause of
modern obesity.

Overconsumption - A Possible Root Cause

Eating too many calories for our enery needs must be a major candidate for the main
cause of the modern obesity epidemic. According to Dr. Marion Nestle, Professor and
Chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at New York University, US
agribusiness now produces 3,800 calories of food a day for every American, 500
calories more than 30 years ago — but at much lower per-calorie costs. Increases in
consumption of calorie-dense foods, as evidenced by the growth of fast-food chains
and higher soft drink consumption, also point to a higher energy-intake.

NOTE: For an explanation of how surplus calories - from dietary fat, protein or
carbohydrate - are stored as body fat, please see: Body Fat/Adipose Tissue -
Why We Gain Fat

Eating Too Many High-Fat or Refined Sugary Foods

The type of food eaten may also play an important role in the rise of obesity.
Researchers continue to discover more metabolic and digestive disorders resulting
from overconsumption of trans-fats and refined white flour carbohydrates, combined
with low fiber intake. These eating patterns are known to interfere with food and
energy metabolism in the body, and cause excessive fat storage. Associated health
disorders include insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes as well as obesity. Incidence of
these "modern" diseases is increasing worldwide.

Reduced Energy Expenditure - A Possible Root Cause

People who eat more calories need to burn more calories, otherwise their calorie
surplus is stored as fat. For example, if we eat 100 more food calories a day than we
burn, we gain about 1 pound in a month. That’s about 10 pounds in a year. Over two
decades this energy surplus causes a weight gain of 200 pounds!

Assessing the contribution of lack of exercise to obesity is hampered by lack of

research. According to existing surveys, only 20 percent of the population are
frequent exercisers. In addition, only a small minority of children (1 in 5) regularly
participate in after-school sports or extra-curricular physical activity. Since 1990,
among adults there has been a per capita decline of 15 percent in frequent exercise
activity (100+ days per year in any one activity). Among teenagers and adolescents
aged 12-17, the plunge is 41 percent.

However, data on correlation between BMI and exercise frequency is almost non-
existent, so we are unable to say exactly what effect lack of exercise has on obesity.
What we do know is that severe clinical obesity leads to serious mobility problems
caused by respiratory and musculoskeletal disorders. Thus the fitness capacity of
obese individuals, especially those suffering from morbid obesity, is typically
diminished.

Family Influence - A Major Contributory Cause to Obesity

Parental behavioral patterns concerning shopping, cooking, eating and exercise, have
an important influence on a child's energy balance and ultimately their weight. Thus
family diet and lifestyle are important contributory causes to modern child obesity,
especially at a time of rising affluence. Since obese children and adolescents
frequently grow up to become obese adults, it's clear that family influence also
extends to adult obesity.

Genetic Causes of Modern Obesity

Genes affect a number of weight-related processes in the body, such as metabolic

rate, blood glucose metabolism, fat-storage, hormones, to name but a few. Also,
some studies of adopted children indicate that adopted children tend to develop
weight problems similar to their biological, rather than adoptive, parents. In addition,
infants born to overweight mothers have been found to be less active and to gain
more weight by the age of three months when compared with infants of normal
weight mothers, suggesting a possible inborn drive to conserve energy. Research has
also shown that normal-weight children of obese parents may have a lower
metabolic rate than normal-weight children of non-obese parents, which can lead to
weight problems in adulthood. All of this suggests that a predisposition to obesity
can be inherited.

However, the fact that obesity has increased so much in the last few decades
appears to discount genetics as the main cause. According to Stephen O'Rahilly,
professor of clinical biochemistry and medicine at Cambridge University, the
influence of genetics on modern levels of obesity is insignificant:

"Nothing genetic explains the rise in obesity. We can't change our genes over 30
years."
http://www.webmd.com/diet/tc/obesity-cause

Obesity - Cause
Obesity is a complex disease for which no single cause or cure exists. You gain weight when you
take in more calories than you burn off. But obesity is influenced by many other factors, also,
including your family history, the type of work you do, your race, and your environment.
Overeating is easy in our culture today. Portions at fast-food and other restaurants are "super-
sized" to the point that one meal can provide an entire day's worth of calories. Food is also a focal
point of social activity. Gatherings of family and friends, work events, and holidays are usually
centered around food. And eating can be a comfort when you are depressed or stressed.
Also, people are less active than ever. Some people hate to exercise and others may not have
the time. And many of the conveniences we use, such as elevators, cars, and the remote control
for the television, cut activity out of our lives.
Even making small changes-like walking your dog-can make a difference. Letting the dog out the
door burns 2 calories. Walking the dog for 30 minutes burns 125 calories. Taking the car to a car
wash uses 18 calories. Washing and waxing it yourself burns 300.
Use this interactive tool to find out how many calories you burn with typical daily activities and
exercise:
Interactive Tool: Calories Burned
Other things can affect our weight, such as family history or genetics. If one of your parents is
obese, you are 3 times as likely to be obese as someone with parents of healthy weight.3
Your family's and friends' lifestyles can also affect your weight. If your family or friends eat a lot of
high-fat or snack foods, eat at irregular times, and skip meals, you probably will too. And if they
are not physically active, you may not be either.
Other things influence your weight and whether you are physically active, including:

• Low self-esteem. Being overweight or obese may lower your self-esteem and lead to
eating as a way to comfort yourself. Repeated failure at dieting also can affect your self-
esteem and make it even harder to lose weight.
• Emotional concerns. Emotional stress, anxiety, or illnesses such as depression or
chronic pain can lead to overeating. Some people eat to calm themselves, to avoid
dealing with unpleasant tasks or situations, or to dampen negative emotions.
• Trauma. Distressing events, such as childhood sexual, physical, or emotional abuse;
loss of a parent during childhood; or marital or family problems, can contribute to
overeating.
• Alcohol. Alcohol (beer and mixed drinks) is very high in calories.
• Medicines or medical conditions. Some medical conditions and medicines may also
cause weight gain. Examples include having Cushing's syndrome or hypothyroidism or
taking certain antidepressants or corticosteroids.
http://www.mydr.com.au/nutrition-weight/animation-effects-of-obesity

Animation: effects of obesity

Obesity (excess body fat) is an increasingly important issue in Australia. Doctors use the body mass
index (BMI) to determine whether a person’s weight is in the healthy range. To calculate your BMI,
divide your weight in kilograms by your height in metres squared. For example, if you weigh 70 kg
and you are 1.7 m tall, your BMI is (70 / 1.7 x 1.7) = 24.2 kg/m2. A BMI greater than 25 kg/m2
indicates that you are overweight, while a BMI greater than 30 kg/m2 indicates that you are obese.
Obesity can cause problems with many organs in the body — view this animation to discover why
obesity is bad for your health.

1) Brain
Being obese can increase your risk of stroke. In obesity, the arteries in the brain can become
narrowed by fatty deposits (atherosclerosis).
Blood clots may then form, blocking the supply of blood to the brain and causing a stroke.
Obesity is also associated with high blood pressure, another factor that increases the risk of stroke.

2) Airway
Obesity is strongly linked to obstructive sleep apnoea, a condition in which the airway partially
collapses during sleep.
Obstructive sleep apnoea is more likely in obese people than in other people because of fat
deposited in the neck area.
Approximately 60–70 per cent of people with obstructive sleep apnoea are obese. The good news is
that weight loss can improve obstructive sleep apnoea.

3) Heart
Obese people often have abnormal levels of cholesterol and other blood fats. This encourages fatty
deposits to build up in the walls of arteries (atherosclerosis). If atherosclerosis narrows the arteries
supplying the heart, angina (chest pain) or heart attack can occur. This situation is known as
coronary heart disease.
Obesity in childhood sets the scene for heart and blood vessel disease in adulthood.

4) Lungs
Obesity makes it hard to breathe easily — it reduces lung function and weakens the muscles that
help us breathe.
Researchers are increasingly recognising the links between obesity and chronic (long-term)
breathing difficulties. The association between asthma and obesity is unclear, but research shows
that asthma symptoms improve in obese people who lose weight.

5) Arteries
High blood pressure is another disease related to obesity — as weight increases, blood pressure
tends to rise. High blood pressure may not cause any symptoms itself, but it increases the risk of
heart attack and stroke.
Most research has shown that obese people can reduce their blood pressure by losing weight. It’s
best to get down to a body mass index (BMI) of less than 25, but losing even approximately 5 kg
can reduce your blood pressure enough to lower the risk of dying from stroke or heart disease.

6) Wrist
Carpal tunnel syndrome (compression of a nerve in the wrist area causing pain, tingling or
numbness of the fingers and a weak grip), is 4 times more common in people who are obese than in
people who are not.

7) Breasts

After menopause, obese women are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer than women with a
body mass index (BMI) in the healthy range.
Weight gain after menopause seems to be especially important when it comes to increasing breast
cancer risk. However, even before menopause, women with breast cancer who are overweight are
less likely to survive the cancer than those with a lower BMI.
Obesity is also a risk factor for breast cancer in men.

8) Liver
Alcohol-related liver disease — including cirrhosis and hepatitis — is more common in people
carrying excess weight than those who are not.
Obesity also increases the risk of fatty liver disease; a range of conditions in which fat accumulates
in the liver.

9) Gallbladder
Gallstones are more common in overweight and obese people than in people of normal weight —
this is related to abnormal cholesterol levels.
Gallstones affect one in 3 obese people compared to one in 10 people with a body mass index (BMI)
in the healthy range. However, rapid weight loss (more than about 1.3 kg a week) is also a risk
factor for gallstones, so more gradual weight loss is recommended.

10) Oesophagus and stomach

Obesity is strongly linked to cancer of the oesophagus — the higher your body mass index (BMI),
the greater your risk.
Obese people are also more likely than non-obese people to develop cancer of the top part of the
stomach (gastric cardia).

11) Immune system

Carrying too much weight can be bad for your immune system, reducing your resistance to
infections. Scavenger cells, which destroy invading microbes, may not work properly in people who
are obese.
Obesity is also associated with an increased risk of infections following wounds and burns.

12) Kidneys
Research suggests that obesity increases the risk of kidney failure — the higher the body mass
index (BMI), the greater the risk of kidney failure. This may be because obesity forces the kidneys
to work harder.
Obese people, especially women, are also more likely than other people to develop cancer of the
kidney (renal cell cancer).

13) Pancreas
Obesity is the strongest environmental risk factor for type 2 diabetes, a condition where the body
doesn’t respond properly to the hormone insulin. Ninety per cent of people with type 2 diabetes are
overweight or obese.
Being obese also makes diabetes hard to control, with diabetes medicines being less effective in
obese people than in people whose weight is in the healthy range.
The good news for people who are obese and have type 2 diabetes: lose as little as 5 per cent of
your body weight and your blood sugar levels should become more manageable.

14) Colon and rectum

Cancer of the colon or rectum (bowel cancer) is more common in obese people than in people with a
body mass index (BMI) within the healthy range.
Large waist size (abdominal obesity) seems to be especially important when it comes to developing
bowel cancer.

15) Reproductive system: uterus (womb)

Women who are severely obese are 3 times more likely to have menstrual problems than women
who are a healthy weight.
Obese women also have a 3–4 times higher risk of cancer of the endometrium (lining of the womb)
than women with a body mass index (BMI) in the healthy range. Women who are obese and also
have diabetes have an even greater risk of endometrial cancer.

16) Reproductive system: fertility and pregnancy

Obesity reduces fertility in both men and women.
For women, being obese before getting pregnant increases the risk of pregnancy complications like
high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes.
When it comes to giving birth, obese women seem to be more likely than women of normal weight
to have an overdue birth, induced labour or longer labour. Obesity is also linked to an increased
Caesarean section rate and greater blood loss during birth, and it increases the risk of complications
after labour.

17) Bladder
Among women, obesity increases the risk of stress incontinence (leakage of urine when you laugh,
cough, sneeze, exercise or lift something heavy) and urge incontinence (a sudden strong urge to
urinate, followed by leakage of urine).

18) Knee
Obese people are more likely than people with a body mass index (BMI) in the healthy range to
have osteoarthritis, especially of the knee, but also of the hip, hand and lower back.
If you have knee osteoarthritis and you are obese, losing 4.5 kg or more should improve your
symptoms.
Obesity also increases the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
19) Veins
Obesity increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition in which blood clots in the
deep veins, often in the legs. In people with DVT, a blood clot can break off and lodge in the blood
vessels in the lung. This process, called pulmonary embolism, can be fatal.
Carrying too much weight also increases the risk of chronic venous insufficiency — in this condition
there is not enough blood flow through the veins back to the heart. This means that blood may pool
in the legs, causing swelling and pain with redness, thickening and ulceration of the skin.

20) Feet
Sever’s disease, which causes heel pain in children during the early part of puberty, is more
common in obese children than in other children.
Obesity increases the risk of gout, a condition where uric acid is deposited in the joints. The big toe
is a common site for gout, but other joints throughout the body can also be affected.