Being overweight isn’t just about vanity. Excessive weight also increases your risk of developing serious health conditions. Here are the top five dangers of being overweight.

Dangers of Being Overweight

1. Type 2 Diabetes

Approximately 80 percent of people who have Type 2 Diabetes are overweight or obese. It was also the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2009. This disease affects blood sugar levels and increases your risk of other diseases such as

• Stroke
• Kidney Disease
• Heart Disease
• Blindness

While there is a strong genetic component to this disease, there are several lifestyle factors also playing a role such as:

• Weight
• Activity Level
• Diet
• Lifestyle

2. Heart Disease

Heart disease is currently the leading cause of death in the United States. Being overweight greatly increases your chances of developing this potentially deadly disease. Carrying excess weight causes your heart to have to work extra hard to send blood to other parts of your body. It can also cause your arteries to harden and narrow.

Heart disease can result in:

• Heart Attack
• Heart Failure
• Cardiac Death

Losing 5 to 10 percent of your body weight may prevent you from developing heart disease.

3. Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood stops flowing to part of the brain, either because of a blockage or a hemorrhage. High blood pressure is the most common cause of strokes. Since being overweight greatly increases your chances of having high blood pressure, your risk of having a stroke rises. Losing weight could significantly lower your blood pressure and, therefore, reduces your risk of suffering a stroke.

4. High Blood Pressure

Even though high blood pressure does not typically have any symptoms, it is still one of the dangers of being overweight. High Blood Pressure has been linked to:

• Heart Disease
• Kidney Failure
• Stroke

Making lifestyle changes help to lower blood pressure, such as:

• Losing Weight
• Reducing Salt Intake
• Cessation of Smoking
• Staying Active

If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, you may have to talk to your doctor about taking medication.

5. Cancer

Cancer is the result of abnormal cell growth in one or more parts of the body. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Several studies have found that being overweight releases your risk of developing cancer due to fat cells releasing a hormone affecting how cells grow in the body.

The Dangers of Being Overweight

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