Risks of Obesity
There are medical conditions that are related to or made worse by obesity. These are called co-morbidities and are categorized as major or life-threatening problems, and minor or more common conditions that are not as life threatening.
Major co-morbidities are the following:
- Type II Diabetes
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol, etc.)
- Heart Disease
- Sleep Apnea Syndrome
- Increased risk of sudden death
Minor co-morbidities include the following:
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Degenerative Arthritis
- Depression
- Urinary Incontinence
- Menstrual irregularity and infertility
Morbid obesity increases the risk for a shorter life expectancy especially for individuals whose BMI is over 40. This brings with it an increased risk of diabetes or heart attack up to seven times greater than in non-obese persons.
Obesity also increases the risks of certain types of Cancer:
- Breast
- Colon
- Prostate
- Kidney