How Obesity Affects Your Health ?

Obesity is recognized as major health problem and not just a cosmetic or lifestyle problem. People who are overweight & obese are more likely to develop health problem such as :

Types 2 Diabetes 

Cancer (Breast Cancer in postmenopausal women, endometrial cancer, colon cancer)

Heart Disease 

Gout 

Gallbladder Diseases 

Hypertension 

Osteoarthritis 

Lipid Disorders 

 Metabolic Syndrome

Sleep Apnoea

Impaired Fertility 

Low Back Problems 

Increased Anaesthetic Risk 

Of a population of 26 million, six million Malaysian adults are overweight and obese. And the obesity levels in adult Malaysians have almost tripled in less than 10 years, rising from 4.4% in 1996 to 12.2% in 2003. 

A recent survey by market researcher TNS Asiapanel revealed that about 38% of Malaysian housewives are overweight, the highest among five Asian countries are overweight, the highest among five Asian countries that include Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and South Korea. 

Of major concern is that most Malaysians tend to get abdominal obesity (around the tummy) rather than generalized obesity, which can lead to long-term degenerative diseases like diabetes, stroke, heart attack, renal failure and gallbladder problems. 

Besides the physical dangers to your well-being, being obese also has many emotional sufferings such as poor self image, self-consciousness, or inferiority complexes. Obese people often face prejudice or discrimination at work, at school and in social situations. Feelings of rejection, shame or depression are common. 

The terms "overweight" or "obese" are used to describe excess body weight. Overweight typically refers to weight 10% above the expected body weight for height and build. Obese refers to being 20% over the target. The greater the excess, the higher health risk the person will have.