We’ve written about the harmful effects of obesity on our blog before, but we’ve never looked at the condition as a whole. Just like a sprained ankle can cause issues with your back and spine, obesity affects all parts of your body. Today, we take a look at the impact obesity has on your entire body, from your head to your toes.
Obesity Above The Waist
Brain – Studies have shown that overweight and obese individuals are more likely to experience depression and to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those who maintain a healthy weight.
Heart – Obesity also takes a toll on your heart. Being obese increases a person’s chance for heart attack and stroke, and it can also lead to high blood pressure and heart disease.
Pancreas – It should come as no surprise that obesity can lead to diabetes, so do your best to keep your weight in check. Losing just 7 percent of your excess body weight combined with 30 minutes of exercise a day can lower your risk of developing diabetes by 60 percent.
Waist – A bigger waistline can be an indicator of earlier death. Studies show that women with a waistline of more than 35 inches and men with waistlines more than 40 inches are at an increased risk for premature death and heart disease.
Obesity Below The Waist
Knees – Bearing all that extra weight takes a toll on your knees. Each pound of weight you lose reduces the amount of pressure on your knee joint by four pounds, so losing just a few pounds can really lessen the load on your knees.
Feet – If you’re obese, you may end up losing a foot. People with weight-related diabetes are 15 times more likely to have a foot or leg amputated than someone without diabetes.
Toes – Obesity can lead to problems in your toes, like the development of gout. Gout is a painful condition which occurs when there’s excess uric acid in the body, which can occur with obesity and a lack of exercise.
So as you can see, obesity takes a big toll on all parts of your body. Lose some weight, and your whole body will be healthier.