The Dangers of Excess Body Fat

The Dangers of Excess Body Fat

Being overweight can affect your daily life in several negative ways. Not only does it contribute to a low sense of self-esteem, it also can lead to serious health problems.

This article will discuss some of the main dangers of being overweight and provide solutions so that you can build a healthy diet lifestyle and extend your life expectancy.

Read on to learn how you can lower your risk of cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and joint pain!

As mentioned above, excess body fat can lead to a decrease in self-esteem. Because being overweight has such a negative connotation, many individuals may feel depressed or anxious. In most cases, research has found that as weight increases, self esteem decreases.

This can be extremely apparent in younger children and children going through puberty. Being overweight as a child can lead to an unhealthy body image and emotional problems in the future.

Perhaps one of the most serious physical dangers of excess body fat is cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, experts have concluded that cancers of the breast, kidney, endometrium, colon, and esophagus are all associated with obesity.

There have also been studies suggesting that cancers of the ovaries, pancreas, and gallbladder are linked to obesity. Reports have also been published estimating that about 41,000 new cases of cancer in the US are due to obesity and that obesity accounts for approximately 14 percent of deaths from cancer in men and 20 percent of deaths in women.

Type II diabetes is extremely correlated with obesity and excess body fat. When you have diabetes, your body is unable to produce insulin and control the level of glucose in your blood stream.

If not managed properly (by regular physical activity and a healthy diet) this disease can cause blindness, nerve damage, heart disease, erectile dysfunction, and kidney problems. Increasing your daily physical activity and controlling your weight can decrease your chances of diabetes by as much as 60 percent!

Having excess body fat usually leads to constricted blood vessels and high blood pressure. High blood pressure can result in heart disease and stroke if not addressed properly. Because your blood vessels are constricted due to more fat around them, your heart needs to work harder to pump oxygenated blood throughout your body. Even though your heart is a resilient muscle, this type of work can cause it to fail – resulting in a heart attack.

Obviously, there are ways to prevent these fatal diseases and gain more confidence during your everyday life. Medical professionals recommend that adults get at least 20-30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity at least 5 times a week or 20 minutes of high intensity physical activity at least 3 days a week.

This physical activity can range from running to strength training to basketball – just get off the couch and get your heart pumping! Combining regular physical activity with a balanced diet free of processed and pre made meals can vastly improve your quality of life, decrease your risk of disease and illness, and increase your self-esteem!