Mental And Physical Effects Of Obesity

Being overweight or obese has many negative effects on the body. It is important you are aware of these so you can take prompt action to reverse any ill effects your weight may have on your life. Just as an underweight person would suffer from health problems, so too might a person that is obese.

Common Health Problems In Obese Patients
There are many common health problems among overweight and obese patients. These are health problems that are more widely known to result from obesity or overweight. You may not develop these diseases, but your risk for developing these diseases goes up the longer you remain obese.

Here is a list of the more common problems associated with obesity, as provided by the Centers for Disease Control.

• High blood pressure or hypertension, which may require prescription medication
• Arthritis, especially osteoarthritis, which may result in damage to the tissues, cartilage and bone in your body
• Type 2 Diabetes, which is most commonly diagnosed in overweight and obese patients
• Heart disease or stroke
• Kidney stones or gallbladder disease
• Sleep disorders, including snoring or sleep apnea
• Breast and colon cancer
• Skin rashes that may result under folds of skin, where bacteria may grow and cause illness

As every person is different, no two people will present with the same risk factors when a doctor considers treating an obese patient. Most of the time even a 10 percent reduction in weight can lead to dramatic improvements in one's life, and a reduced risk for any of the diseases listed above.

Obesity & Families
Often obesity runs in families. There may be many reasons for this, including genetics or hereditary reasons, cultural or ethnic reasons, or poor eating habits that are taught to children that grow into adults that teach their own children poor eating habits.

At some point, it is important the entire family look at the problem of obesity seriously. If one member of the family is obese, other members of the family can help by trying to eat health consciously. This is especially true when someone is trying to lose weight.

Having cupboards full of sweets, salty snacks, or processed foods won't help the person trying to loose weight. People are after all, only human and humans are subject to the same cravings regardless of their size or shape.

Obesity also has a powerful effect on self-esteem. Many patients who are obese develop low self-esteem. This increases with time especially if the family member withdraws from the public and begins eating more food to help cope with the complex emotions that come with obesity or any disease.

For those with self-esteem issues, regular sessions with a psychotherapist or psychologist may help them overcome the emotional effects of obesity. People that are trying to overcome obesity may also seek help from local or online support groups. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, in 2006 more than 97 million people in the United States were obese or overweight. What that means is if you are overweight or obese, you are not alone. Seek help from family, friends, your caregivers and a support group, and you may find you are well on your way to recovery!