While obesity itself does not technically kill people, somewhere between 100,000 to 400,000 Americans die from the diseases that come with it each year. Even at the conservative estimates, it is still a massive death toll; much greater than other causes of death which receive a lot more press attention.
So, who exactly is classed as being obese? A formula called the body mass index, or BMI, is used to calculate who is obese. While those with BMIs of between 25 and 29 are classified as being overweight, those at 30 to 40 are considered obese. Regardless of exactly where you come on this scale, it is important to know the dangers of carrying around too much weight.
Remember that the heart must pump blood 24 hours a day to supply and move this extra weight, and it puts a big strain on it to do so. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US, and those with a BMI of above 25 are twice as likely as anyone to die from it.
As over 80% of people suffering from Type 2 Diabetes are also overweight, there is also a definite link between obesity and diabetes. Furthermore, it appears that being overweight increases the risk of some types of cancers, such as that of the kidneys and colon.
Those are just some of the fatal diseases to have been directly linked to being obese. Diseases which tend not to be life threatening, but greatly affect quality of life are also a much greater risk for those who are overweight.
Those who are obese need to take action if they are serious about their health. While there is a lot of information out there, it is advisable to check with a physician.
By first being aware of the dangers of obesity, people can hopefully be motivated to lose weight. If you are concerned about your own weight, then you should check your BMI today, and start taking immediate action if necessary.
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