2. Medically speaking, a person is considered overweight when
they have a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29.9.
Anyone with a BMI over 30 is considered obese. Being
overweight poses many risks to one’s health.
WHAT IS CONSIDERED OVERWEIGHT?
3. Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States.
People who are most at risk for heart disease are those with a
BMI of 30 or more and people with a wide waist circumference.
HEART DISEASE
4. A poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and excess weight all
contribute to the development of Type 2 diabetes. Type 2
Diabetes is a chronic illness in which the body either doesn’t
produce enough insulin or becomes resistant to it.
TYPE 2 DIABETES
5. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
As your weight increases, so does your blood pressure.
A healthy blood pressure reading is 120/80. High blood
pressure increases the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
It can also cause organ damage.
6. SLEEP APNEA
Being overweight or obese causes sleep issues, including
sleep apnea, snoring, and insomnia. All of these conditions
are the result of breathing problems.
8. JOINT PAIN
Every pound of extra weight adds four times the amount of
stress to the joints. This increases the risk of wearing down
cartilage and developing osteoarthritis.
9. DEPRESSION
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), adults with depression are more likely to be obese
than adults without depression. Depression can stem from
low self-esteem, joint pain and chronic fatigue.