Obesity Epidemic in the United States
Diseases that Arise From Obesity
It is important to understand and realize the different types of diseases that can arise from obesity. These are serious health conditions that can be prevented by living a healthy and active lifestyle
Obesity
Obesity is the highest it has ever been over recent decades and it is reaching epidemic proportions. It has been reported that one third of the adult population in North America is obese. Obesity takes a heavy toll on the cardiovascular system. Some main cardiovascular diseases that can arise from obesity are hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. High blood pressure can cause a lot of other complications in the body. The most severe would be cardiac arrest or heart attack.
4 Main Diseases
Obesity can lead to...
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure refers to the pressure of blood against your artery walls. Over time, this can lead to to other diseases such as heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and other problems. Eating a healthy diet with less salt, exercising and taking medications can help lower blood pressure.
Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary Heart disease is a type of heart disease that develops when the arteries of the heart cannot deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart. It is caused by the build up of plaque that forms in the arteries making it hard for blood to flow freely. This can be treated by physical exercise, low fat diet, weight loss, and even some surgical procedures.
Stroke
A stroke happens when there is a shortage of blood supply to the brain. This prevents the brain from getting oxygen and nutrients it needs to perform correctly. When this happens brain cells begin to die within minutes. This can be prevented by a healthy lifestyle, healthy eating, exercise, medication and even a surgical procedure.
Mental Illness
Mental Illness is a huge disease in today's world. This can affect a lot of other things in the body. Mental illness can affect mood, thinking and behavior. There have been studies shown that exercise and having a healthy diet can prevent mental illness.
References
Lavie, Carl J, De Schutter, Alban, Parto, Parham, Jahangir, Eiman, Kokkinos, Peter, Ortega, Francisco B, Arena, Ross, & Milani, Richard V. (2015). Obesity and Prevalence of Cardiovascular Diseases and Prognosis—The Obesity Paradox Updated. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 58(5), 537–547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2016.01.008
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American Society for Bariatric Surgery. (2007). Surgery for obesity and related diseases. Elsevier.