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5 Lesser Known Risks of Being Overweight Most people are generally aware of the top health risks of being overweight (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol levels) but there are other factors linked to being overweight that deserve your attention. 1) Sleep Apnea: What is it? Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person stops breathing for short periods during the night. A person who has sleep apnea may suffer from daytime sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and even heart failure. How is it linked to overweight? The risk for sleep apnea is higher for people who are overweight. A person who is overweight may have more fat stored around his or her neck. This may make the airway smaller. A smaller airway can make breathing difficult, loud (snoring), or stop altogether. In addition, fat stored in the neck and throughout the body may produce substances that cause inflammation. Inflammation in the neck is a risk factor for sleep apnea. What can weight loss do? Weight loss usually improves sleep apnea. Weight loss may help to decrease neck size and lessen inflammation. 2) Osteoarthritis: What is it? Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder that causes the joint bone and cartilage (tissue that protects joints) to wear away. Osteoarthritis most often affects the joints of the knees, hips, and lower back. How is it linked to overweight? Extra weight may place extra pressure on joints and cartilage, causing them to wear away. In addition, people with more body fat may have higher blood levels of substances that cause inflammation. Inflammation at the joints may raise the risk for osteoarthritis. What can weight loss do? Weight loss of at least 5 percent of your body weight may decrease stress on your knees, hips, and lower back, and lessen inflammation in your body. If you have osteoarthritis, losing weight may help improve your symptoms. 3) Gallbladder Disease: What is it? Gallbladder disease includes gallstones and inflammation or infection of the gallbladder. Gallstones are clusters of solid material that form in the gallbladder. They are made mostly of cholesterol and can cause abdominal pain, especially after consuming fatty foods. The pain may be sharp or dull. How is it linked to overweight? People who are overweight have a higher risk for developing gallbladder disease. They may produce more cholesterol (a fat-like substance found in the body), a risk factor for gallstones. Also, people who are overweight may have an enlarged gallbladder, which may not work properly. What can weight loss do? Fast weight loss (more than 3 pounds per week) or large weight loss can actually increase your chance of developing gallstones. Modest, slow weight loss of about 1/2 to 2 pounds a week is less likely to cause gallstones. Achieving a healthy weight may lower your risk for developing gallstones. 4) Fatty Liver Disease: What is it? Fatty liver disease occurs when fat builds up in the liver cells and causes injury and inflammation in the liver. It can sometimes lead to severe liver damage, cirrhosis (build-up of scar tissue that blocks proper blood flow in the liver), or even liver failure. Fatty liver disease is like alcoholic liver damage, but it is not caused by alcohol and can occur in people who drink little or no alcohol. You can learn more about fatty liver disease, also known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), from the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/nash. The NASH Clinical Research Network, sponsored by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, conducts clinical studies about prevention and treatment. For more information on the NASH Clinical Research Network, visit www.jhucct.com/nash. How is it linked to overweight? People who have diabetes or “pre-diabetes” (when blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not yet in the diabetic range) are more likely to have fatty liver disease than people without these conditions. People who are overweight are more likely to develop diabetes (see the “Type 2 Diabetes” section above). It is not known why some people who are overweight or diabetic get fatty liver disease and others do not. What can weight loss do? Losing weight and being physically active can help you control your blood sugar levels. It can also reduce the build-up of fat in your liver and prevent further injury. People with fatty liver disease should avoid drinking alcohol. 5) Pregnancy Complications: What are they? Overweight and obesity raise the risk of pregnancy complications for both mother and baby. Pregnant women who are overweight or obese may have an increased risk for:
Babies of overweight or obese mothers have an increased risk of neural tube defects (defects of the brain and spinal cord), stillbirth, prematurity, and being large for gestational age. How are they linked to overweight? Pregnant women who are overweight are more likely to develop insulin resistance, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. (Insulin resistance is when cells do not respond properly to the hormone insulin, which carries blood sugar to cells for energy. It may result in high levels of blood sugar.) Overweight also increases the risks associated with surgery and anesthesia, and severe obesity increases operative time and blood loss. Some studies have shown that gaining excess weight during pregnancy—even without becoming obese—may increase risks. It is important to consult with your obstetrician or other health care provider about how much weight to gain during pregnancy. What can weight loss do? Women who are overweight or obese and who would like to become pregnant should speak with their health care provider about losing weight before becoming pregnant. Pre-pregnancy weight loss significantly reduces pregnancy complications. Pregnant women who are overweight or obese should speak with their health care provider about limiting gestational weight gain and being physically active during pregnancy. Losing excess weight after delivery may help women reduce their health risks. If a woman developed gestational diabetes, losing weight will lower her risk of developing diabetes later in life. If you are overweight, losing as little as 5 percent of your body weight may lower your risk for several diseases, including coronary heart disease and type 2 diabetes. If you weigh 200 pounds, this means losing 10 pounds. Slow and steady weight loss of 1/2 to 2 pounds per week, and not more than 3 pounds per week, is the safest way to lose weight. To lose weight, or to maintain weight loss, you will likely need to do more than 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily. For more information, visit the websites below. National Diabetes Information
Clearinghouse National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke National Cancer Institute Weight-control Information Network Endnotes [2] Ford ED, Giles WH, Modkad AH. Increasing prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among U.S. adults. Diabetes Care. 2004;24(10):244-9.
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