Complications
General Adverse Effects of Obesity. Obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over, accounts for nearly 300,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. It is associated with more chronic health problems than smoking, heavy drinking, or being poor. Furthermore, given the current increase in obesity, it will surpass smoking as the most important preventable cause of death in America.
Some studies indicate that the following health risks by body mass:
- The lowest risks for heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers are in people with body mass index (BMI) values of 21 to 25.
- The risks increase slightly when BMI values are between 25 and 27.
- They are significant in BMIs between 27 and 30.
- They are dramatic over 30.
Anyone with chronic health problems (e.g., heart or lung disease, stroke, or arthritis) or risk factors for them must be concerned about extra weight.
- Metabolic Changes. As fat stores increase, the fat cells themselves enlarge and produce a number of chemicals that increase the risk for a number of diseases. Such diseases may include diabetes, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, and some cancers.
- Increased Mass. The increased body weight itself causes structural problems that cause injury and diseases, including osteoarthritis and sleep apnea.
- Harmful Fat Cell Types. Weight concentrated around the abdomen and in the upper part of the body (the apple shape) poses a higher health risk than fat that settles around the hips and flank (the pear shape). Fat cells in the upper part of the body appear to have different qualities from those found in the lower parts. In fact, studies suggest a higher risk for diabetes in people with the "apple shape" and lower risk in those who are "pear shaped."
General Adverse Effects of Being Overweight (Not Obese). It is still not clear if being overweight (a BMI of 25 to 29.9) hurts healthy people with no risk factors for serious illnesses.
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