Obesity: It Could Lead to Other Health Issues
By Stephen R. Farris
According to studies, at least 30 percent of the American population is considered to be obese. It's no wonder with our fast-paced lifestyles and the tendency to make unhealthy food choices, particularly the fast food variety.
If not dealt with by eating right and exercising regularly, obesity can cause serious health problems. While eating the wrong types of foods can lead to obesity, there are other factors that weigh in, such as genetics or underlying medical problems to cause our metabolism to be slower than normal.
But our focus here will be on conditions that can eventually develop with our health due to being obese.
Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes associated with being obese. Exercise and a balanced diet to lose weight could help prevent one from getting this disease. Type 2 diabetes can lead to stroke, heart disease and high blood pressure, to name a few.
Sleep Apnea
Obesity has been linked to a condition called sleep apnea, which is a sleeping disorder that could cause you not to breathe during sleep, and may lead to other health problems or even death.
Liver Problems
Over time, fat can accumulate in your liver, thus leading to fatty liver disease. While symptoms may not be noticed, the fat accumulation could wind up causing the liver to fail. Again, exercise and a healthy diet for losing weight can slow down fatty buildup or eventually eliminate it.
Cancer
Obesity can lead to several types of cancer, such as breast, colon, pancreatic, kidney, prostate, or cervix to name some of them.
As mentioned a few times earlier, there are ways to reverse obesity by simply changing the way you eat and the types of foods you consume. Getting rid of junk food and foods with high sugar content and that are higher in sodium is a major first step. Replace them with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with lean cuts of chicken, fish or turkey. Processed foods may trick you into thinking they are healthy, but always make sure you read the label to see if they may have hidden things in them that could defeat what you're trying to accomplish with your diet.
Talk with your local chiropractor about nutrition. They may have some helpful tips and/or suggestions that you could benefit from.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Taylors, S.C.