It is very difficult to ascertain the medical impact of the increasing prevalence of obesity in the West as, in most cases, the weight problems contribute to other conditions and the influence of the weight problem is hidden. But some experts have put the number of deaths as high as 300,000 a year – the second most common killer in the US after tobacco-related disease.
Excessive body fat can result in reduced blood flow, creating the potential for a number of serious medical problems. Heart disease and increased blood pressure are the most common of these; and heart failure, cardiac arrest and angina are some of the most serious. Hyperlipidemia can occur when high cholesterol in the diet causes fat to build up in the arteries, limiting blood flow and increasing the potential for strokes.
When fat begins to build up in the liver, serious damage or inflammation can occur. Liver damage, liver failure and cirrhosis often affect overweight and obese people, and are potentially lethal conditions.
Carrying extra weight around the abdomen can put excessive pressure on the bladder, causing the pelvic muscles to weaken and resulting in urinary leakage. This condition is known as Urinary Stress Incontinence, and largely affects overweight and obese people and pregnant women/mothers.
80% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. Type 2 diabetes is characterised by an excessive level of sugar in the blood stream. An unhealthy diet can result in the failure of cells to extract blood sugar from the blood stream. The insulin-producing cells then take over this function, until they become worn out and fail to do so. At this stage, the blood sugar levels rise and type 2 diabetes can be contracted.