How Obesity Increases the Risk of Chronic Illnesses

07/16/2025

 

What is Obesity?

There is an uproar about the definition of obesity on the internet, but from a medical standpoint, obesity can be described as a complex chronic disease that is characterized by having too much body fat. If not taken care of in the early stages with weight loss, it can become a long-lasting condition that requires constant medical attention, limiting daily living and activities.

Obesity can also become a warning sign for other diseases to creep in, such as a stroke, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, hypertension, and many more. The standard for determining obesity is normally defined as having a body mass index or BMI of 30 or higher. BMI is a ratio of an individual's weight to height. However, it is important to note that a simple BMI calculation cannot determine if you are healthy or not, as it does not account for your body composition and other factors.

What Are The Symptoms Of Obesity?

If a BMI is not enough, how do you know if you are obese, or if your weight needs to be kept in check? It is not necessary to be diagnosed with obesity to work towards a healthier lifestyle, but here are some warning signs that may indicate that it is imperative to do so:

• Difficulty in engaging in physical activities, such as walking or climbing stairs, due to your weight.

• You may feel that breathing is uncomfortable, short of breath, or winded. You may also develop sleep apnea, which leads to increased snoring and disturbed sleep.

• Feeling exhausted all the time, with body aches and joint pain, especially in your knees.

If you are someone who has been struggling with obesity or being overweight, you may also develop:

• Low confidence level and self-esteem.

• Depression, anxiety, and mood disorders.

If these symptoms sound familiar to you, you should speak to your doctor about this. Understanding your situation will be helpful in finding ways to help you with your body weight management.

What Are The Health Risks Of Being Overweight?

Carrying excess weight and obesity can have a significant impact on our health and increase the risk of many health problems. It significantly opens up the door for various chronic illnesses to enter your body.

Due to carrying weight, it deteriorates the joints faster, as there is excessive mechanical stress and systemic inflammation. The surplus weight puts pressure on the joints, which may tear off cartilage, leading to conditions such as osteoarthritis.

Obesity is also strongly linked to insulin resistance, which can cause type 2 diabetes. Fat is stored throughout the body, in adipose tissues, but sometimes, it can also be stored in your arteries, which can cause clogs. This condition is also a complication of cholesterol and can lead to hypertension, heart attacks, and strokes if the arteries are completely blocked. This excess fat can also affect the liver with a disease known as fatty liver.

There have been many studies showing that obesity is also linked to many cancers, such as cancers of the uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovary, breast, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney, and prostate. 

Being obese can also interfere with your breathing and cause several respiratory issues, including asthma, obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

What Medicines Are Used For Weight Loss?

Your doctor or dietitian may recommend adding weight loss medication to your weight loss journey. There are Generic Weight Loss Drugs Online available; however, these medicines are not the only options for weight loss; various factors, including physical exercise and a healthy diet, contribute to the overall effect when combined with medication. Primarily, the work of medication is that it functions like an appetite suppressant, reducing your craving or feeling of hunger by affecting the signals to your brain. The following medications are approved by the FDA in the United States for the treatment of obesity:

• GLP-1 Agonists: Primarily used for the role of treating diabetes, the mechanism of action of these drugs controls appetite, helps you feel full sooner, and may lower blood sugar levels. Examples of GLP-1 agonists are Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.

NOTE: Not all the above-mentioned medications are approved by the FDA for weight loss and are sometimes used off-label for these purposes.

• Orlistat: This drug reduces the absorption of fat in the gastrointestinal tract.  It can be taken alongside healthy lifestyle changes to reduce weight effectively.

You can Buy Weight Loss Online medications only after consulting with your doctor if you have any of the symptoms or complications of obesity.

How Can A Healthy Eating Plan And Physical Exercise Help You Reduce Obesity?

Regular physical workout and a healthy eating plan are not only a key component of controlling body weight, but they also offer a range of other health benefits. They help create a calorie deficit, which means your body burns more calories than it takes in, leading to weight loss, which minimizes the risk of developing several chronic diseases and improves the quality of life for those with chronic illnesses and conditions. Exercise also builds muscle, which increases your resting metabolic rate, making it more effortless to manage your obesity.

Takeaway

Today, people face daily stress, which has become an integral part of life. Taking too much stress can negatively impact our health, leading to unhealthy eating habits, poor sleep cycle, and engaging in unhealthy activities, which leads to obesity. The good news is that losing weight and managing diet with the help of weight loss medications can improve physical health and reduce problems related to obesity. Adding activities like meditation, nature walks, yoga, and exercise, along with a balanced diet, will improve our well-being. Keeping all the precautionary measures in mind can help us eliminate or prevent the risk of chronic illnesses that occur due to obesity. By using these self-care methods, we can feel better and thrive in both body and mind. Let us focus on bringing positivity and joy into our lives!

FAQs:-

Q1: How does obesity contribute to chronic diseases like diabetes and heart problems?

The risk of chronic diseases like heart problems and type 2 diabetes increases due to Obesity, which then leads to insulin resistance, high blood pressure, harmful cholesterol levels, and inflammation. These issues create pressure on our heart and blood vessels, disrupting how the body processes food, making it more likely to develop these diseases.

Q2: Can losing weight reduce my risk of developing chronic conditions?

Losing weight can indeed help you reduce the risk of developing many chronic conditions significantly. As per the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports, even a 5-10% weight loss can improve blood pressure, lower bad cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels in the bloodstream, which can particularly restrict conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some kinds of cancer.

Q3: Why is belly fat more dangerous for long-term health?

Belly fat, or visceral fat, is hazardous to long-term health compared to other types of fat. It is metabolically active and releases substances that can lead to serious health problems. This increases the risk of heart disease, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

Q4: Is obesity linked to hormonal imbalances and inflammation?

Yes, obesity is strongly linked to hormonal imbalances and inflammation. It can disrupt essential hormone systems that may lead to insulin resistance and hormonal changes. Additionally, obesity can make your body stay inflamed for a long time, which can lead to other health issues.

Q5: What chronic illnesses are most commonly caused by obesity?

The most common chronic illnesses caused by obesity are type 2 diabetes, heart problems like cardiovascular diseases and stroke, hypertension, and some kinds of cancers. It also increases the risk of osteoarthritis, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and gallbladder disease.