Obesity is more than just a few extra pounds. Obesity is the heavy accumulation of fat in your body to such a degree that it rapidly increases your risk of diseases that can damage your health and knock years off your life, such as heart disease and diabetes.
The fat may be equally distributed around the body or concentrated on the stomach (apple-shaped) or the hips and thighs (pear-shaped).
Psychologically, being overweight can affect your body image and damage self-esteem. In some cases this can cause social anxiety and depression.
Common physical problems include:
difficulties breathing
difficulties walking or running
increased sweating
pain in the knees and back
skin conditions such as acne
gallstones.
The following medical conditions are also more common in obese people than in those of normal weight:
high blood pressure
high cholesterol
diseases related to hardening of the arteries such as heart attack and stroke(cardiovascular disease).
type 2 diabetes
some types of cancer.
These conditions are often known as obesity-related diseases and are some of the most common causes of death before the age of 75. This is why obesity increases your risk of mortality.
