Being a couple of pounds overweight may not really be that much of a problem. Only your physician can tell you for sure. Naturally, it depends on your unique situation.
What we do know, however, is that being severely obese can lead to health problems.
• Obesity can make you really sick.
Did you know that obesity is linked to five of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States? In a report from the C. Everett Koop Foundation, scientists described the relationship between overweight and its most commonly associated health problems. For example:
• Diabetes.
Of all the diseases linked to unhealthy weight, type II (non-insulin dependent) diabetes is the most strongly associated. Medical researchers estimate that between 88 and 97 percent of all cases diagnosed in overweight patients are linked to their obesity. Furthermore, the risk increases with the degree of overweight. There is a two-fold increase in people who are mildly overweight, a five-fold increased risk in those who are moderately overweight, and a 10-fold increased risk in those who are severely obese.
• Hypertension (high blood pressure).
In the Western world, about a third of all cases of hypertension are thought to be due to obesity, and in men over 45 years, it may be as high as 65 percent.
• Coronary heart disease.
Unhealthy weight not only enhances many of the risk factors for coronary heart disease — high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, high triglycerides, and increased insulin resistance — it has been found to be a serious risk factor itself.
• Cancer.
According to the results of a 12-year study of 750,000 cancer patients conducted by the American Cancer Society, overweight men have a higher rate of colonrectal cancer and prostate cancer than lean men. Specifically, the risk of developing colon cancer is 50 to 70 percent greater in overweight men and is particularly strong among older men.
• Gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, and gout.
Research finds that gallstones occur three to six more times in overweight as compared to lean individuals. In fact, among women, 70 percent of reported gallstones are associated with obesity. Overweight people are six times more likely to have osteoarthritis of the knee compared to lean individuals. Likewise, higher uric acid levels are reported in obese people, suggesting a greater risk for developing gout, a type of arthritis.
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