Surprising Health Issues Tied to Obesity
Obesity is a problem that the world has been battling with over the years. With children having easier access to unhealthy foods to adults not having the time to prepare healthy meals, obesity is everywhere. Unfortunately, there are an array of negative side effects to your health ranging from diabetes to cancer. In the United States alone, over 36% of residents are classified as obese, with similar numbers shown around the UK, Canada, and other destinations.
- Cancer
As per a study conducted by Lancet, they found that people who were above their required BMI by only 1 point would result in an additional 3,790 cancer cases per year. This is quite a concerning number as most people are at least 2.5 points higher than what they should be. In fact, the National Cancer Institute states that obesity is the cause of over 34,000 new cases of cancer for men and 50,000 for women on an annual basis. If people were to focus more on their diet and reduce their BMI by at least 1%, over 100,000 cases of cancer could be avoided.
- Migraines
Carrying extra weight on your body can be detrimental to all parts of your body, including your brain. There is a much higher likelihood of suffering from migraines if you are obese. According to a study conducted by Johns Hopkins, obese individuals are 81% more likely to have at least 14 migraines in a month in comparison to people who had a healthy weight. Learn more about obesity here.
- Premature Births
Another concerning side effect of being overweight is the likelihood of women having premature births. There are many overweight women in the world that are unable to conceive because the fatty membranes in their body weaken the membranes in both the cervix and the uterus. This can lead to premature births and disabilities in children at a later age.
- Sleep Disorders
Sleep is by far one of the most important activities that you do on a regular basis as it provides you with mental acuity and physical strength. When you are obese, there is a higher likelihood of suffering from sleep disorders such as insomnia. The less sleep that you get on a regular basis increases your chances of developing diabetes and heart disease. It’s also likely that you will gain more weight the less that you sleep as many people who get less than 5 hours of rest per night are 15% more likely to gain weight.