| Almost every system of the body suffers when | | | | overweight has an effect on the production and |
| a person is obese. Doctors consider a person | | | | metabolism of estrogen, the female hormone. |
| obese who is 20 percent above the | | | | Although uncommon in the general population, |
| recommended weight for his or her height and | | | | toxemia (a form of blood poisoning) frequently |
| build. | | | | occurs when the obese are pregnant or |
| When a person is very overweight, the | | | | postpartum. |
| respiratory system may become overtaxed. The | | | | The endocrine system can be negatively affected |
| extra physical mass, composed of fat, that rests | | | | in many ways in the overweight. The changes in |
| on the breathing apparatus is heavier than it | | | | the metabolism of testosterone and estrogen in |
| should be. The additional weight putting pressure | | | | the obese may lead to excess hairiness. |
| on the larynx and rib cage makes it difficult for a | | | | Overweight people often suffer from diabetes. |
| person to breath deeply, and fill the lungs to | | | | They also tend to have a decreased metabolic |
| capacity with fresh air. In the cardiovascular | | | | rate. Another significant health risk to the |
| system, fatty deposits may accumulate on the | | | | overweight is that cancer rates are much higher. |
| arteries, causing atherosclerosis. This may | | | | The cancer rate in overweight men is about a |
| eventually impede the flow of blood to the heart. | | | | third higher, and obese women suffer from |
| Obesity can cause high blood pressure and | | | | cancer over 50 percent more often than thin |
| pulmonary hypertension, the enlargement of the | | | | women. |
| right ventricle of the heart. Overweight people are | | | | So you see, there are many reasons that it is |
| more prone to varicose veins and | | | | wise to try to maintain a healthy body weight. |
| thromboembolism--blood clots which may move | | | | Maybe one or more of the health risks I have |
| from the veins to other parts of the body, | | | | mentioned will motivate you to diet. Remember, |
| particularly the lungs--than people who are slender. | | | | there is no race to rid yourself of all the extra |
| The gastrointestinal system is also affected by | | | | pounds you have been carrying around for so |
| excess weight. Obese people tend to have fatty | | | | long. Do not crash diet, because you will probably |
| livers and gallstones much more frequently than | | | | regain the weight just as quickly, possibly even |
| normal. | | | | gaining more than you lost. Take it slowly and |
| The most common complication of obesity in the | | | | sensibly and make sure your nutrition does not |
| musculoskeletal system is osteoarthritis. Gouty | | | | suffer when you diet. Your best bet is to change |
| arthritis and chronic destruction of the joints may | | | | the amounts of food you eat, eating less of the |
| occur because of the excess of uric acid | | | | foods you like best. Of course if you switch from |
| frequently found in overweight people. In the | | | | high cholesterol or fatty foods to low cholesterol, |
| female reproductive system, excess weight can | | | | you gain another benefit of reducing risks of |
| interfere with the amount of menstrual flow and | | | | heart attack or stroke. |
| the timing of periods. That is because being | | | | |