Obesity In Women: Health Complications

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Obesity is nothing but a state where our body weight is much higher than the required weight. An obese person's Body Mass Index (BMI) is higher than 35 and weight is 30% more than what it should be.

Body weight should be according to our height and weight. If the BMI increases to more than 40, the health complications of obesity become severe. At such a stage, the condition is known as morbid obesity, which may even cause death of the patient.

The main causes of obesity are over eating, unhealthy eating habits and unhealthy lifestyle. Obesity is also caused by continuous desk jobs with no recreational activities like gym, yoga, aerobics and dancing.

Obesity occurs in both men and women. But the consequences of obesity are different for both. In this article we are going to discuss the health problems that obesity causes in women. Health complications of obesity can be very serious.

Read on to know the health complications that obesity causes in women.

Breast Cancer – Recent studies have shown that women who gain a lot of weight after the age of 18 are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with post-menopausal breast cancer. This is thought to be because of the increased levels of estrogen in obese women. The treatment for breast cancer includes painful chemo treatments, which has a lot of other side effects. A 2007 study in the US suggested that 7 percent of cancer in women were related to obesity. You must get your weight in check to avoid health complications of obesity. Breast cancer is one of the worst health problems caused by obesity.

Infertility and pregnancy complications – Infertility or reduced capacity of the ovaries to carry a fertilised egg is another health complication of obesity. The fat accumulated around the ovary does not let the egg to fertilise. Even if the egg fertilises successfully, the growth of the baby does not happen normally. Sometimes, obesity also leads to miscarriage or death of the baby before birth. There are many pregnancy related health complications caused by obesity. If you are obese but want to get pregnant, you must work to lose your weight.

Heart Strokes – Women have a low percentage of heart attacks or heart strokes, but due to obesity the chances of getting a heart attack increases drastically. The weight and extra fat hampers the working of the heart. Health complications of obesity include heart problems. Your BMI should be less than 30-35 to have a healthy heart and to stay away from health complications of obesity.

Depression – Obesity can lead to depression and other related mental health issues. Many obese women tend to be very conscious of their appearance, and as a result, fear being ridiculed by others. This often causes a lack of self-esteem and self-confidence, which sometimes leads to severe depression. Sometimes, the depression goes to such an extent that women change their eating patterns, stop eating altogether, stop communicating with people and may even think of taking their lives. Obesity is a serious health problem and can even be fatal if left untreated.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.