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Health risks of obesity

Description

Obesity is a medical condition in which a high amount of body fat makes it hard for a person's internal organs to work well. This can cause poor health.

People with obesity have a higher chance of developing these health problems:

  • Type 2 diabetes.
  • High blood pressure.
  • High blood cholesterol and triglycerides (high blood fats).
  • Heart attacks, heart failure, and stroke.
  • Bone and joint problems. More weight puts pressure on the bones and joints. This can lead to osteoarthritis, a disease that causes joint pain and stiffness.
  • Stopping breathing during sleep (sleep apnea). This can cause daytime fatigue or sleepiness, poor attention, and problems at work.
  • Gallstones.
  • Certain cancers (breast, colon, endometrial, gallbladder, kidney, and liver).
  • Fatty liver disease.
  • Reduced life expectancy.

Three things can be used to determine if a person's body fat gives them a higher chance of developing obesity-related diseases:

  • Body mass index (BMI)
  • Waist size
  • Other personal or family risk factors (a risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting a disease)

BMI is calculated using height and weight. It is used to estimate body fat.

Starting at 25.0, the higher your BMI, the greater your risk of developing obesity-related health problems. These ranges of BMI are used to describe levels of risk:

  • Overweight (not obese), if BMI is 25.0 to 29.9
  • Class 1 (low-risk) obesity, if BMI is 30.0 to 34.9
  • Class 2 (moderate-risk) obesity, if BMI is 35.0 to 39.9
  • Class 3 (high-risk) obesity, if BMI is equal to or greater than 40.0
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Review Date: 1/30/2018

Reviewed By: John E. Meilahn, MD, Bariatric Surgery, Chestnut Hill Surgical Associates, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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