HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OBESITY

Obesity is currently the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Being overweight and obese can contribute to death by causing or worsening many different
diseases, including but not limited to:

• High blood pressure;
• High cholesterol (overweight individuals often havehigher levels of “bad” cholesterol and lower levels of“good” cholesterol);
• Obstructive sleep apnea (a condition where a person maystop breathing for a period of time while sleeping);
• Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis;
• Certain types of cancer, including breast, esophageal,stomach, colorectal, endometrial, and kidney cancer;
• In women: menstrual disturbances, infertility problems,and an increased incidence of birth defects in children;
• Increased daytime sleepiness and heat intolerance;
• Obesity may also contribute to gallbladder disease, gout,breathing problems, increased incidence of infections,liver diseases, and increased pain, especially in the lowerback and knees.

Two of the biggest health problems that overweight individuals face are a greatly elevated risk of heart disease and stroke. The American Heart Association (AHA) has found a direct link between these health conditions and being overweight. Heart disease is now the number-one killer of women in the United States, and the rise of overweight and obesity can be directly correlated to it.