More than a third of U.S. adults are obesity. It’s a medical term that means you weigh at least 20% more than what is ideal for someone your height, often because of body fat. It’s measured by BMI (body mass index): 30 and higher is considered obese. That extra weight, especially as fat around your waist, can lead to health issues that often feed off of each other. Shedding pounds may prevent, slow, or even reverse many of them.
Am I Overweight?
Almost everyone has asked this question at one time or another: Am I Overweight? The answer to this question may vary from person to person due to its contributing factors (height, sex, body fat, body shape, etc.). However, there are multiple ways to determine whether or not you are carrying too much weight. Consider the following measurement methods:
Body Mass Index (BMI) — This measurement determines whether you have an appropriate body weight by measuring your weight in relation to your height.
Formula: weight (lb) / [height (in)]2 x 703
Calculate your BMI by dividing your weight in pounds (lbs) by your height in inches (in) squared, then multiplying by 703.
Example: Weight = 250 lbs Height = 6’4″ (76″) Calculation: [250 ÷ (76)2] x 703 = 30.43 or (250 ÷ 5776) x 703 =30.43
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BMI ranges for adults are as follows:
- Below 18.5 is considered underweight
- 18.5–24.9 is considered a normal or healthy weight
- 25.0–29.9 is considered overweight
- 30.0 and above is considered obese
Respiratory system
Fat stored around the neck can make the airway too small, which can make breathing difficult at night. This is called sleep apnea. Breathing may actually stop for short periods of time in people with sleep apnea.
Nervous system
Being overweight or having obesity greatly increases the risk of stroke, where blood stops flowing to your brain. Obesity can also have a profound effect on your mental health. This includes a higher risk of depression, poor self-esteem, and issues with body image.
Digestive system
Obesity has been associated with a higher risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD occurs when stomach acid leaks into the esophagus.
In addition, obesity increases the risk of developing gallstones. This is when bile builds up and hardens in the gallbladder. This may require surgery.
Fat can also build up around the liver and lead to liver damage, scar tissues, and even liver failure.
Skeletal and muscular systems
Obesity can cause deteriorating bone density and muscle mass. This is referred to as osteosarcopenic obesity. Osteosarcopenic obesity can lead to a higher risk of fractures, physical disability, insulin resistance, and poorer overall health outcomes.
Extra weight can also put too much pressure on the joints, leading to pain and stiffness.
Cardiovascular and endocrine system
In people with obesity, the heart needs to work harder to pump blood around the body. This leads to high blood pressure, or hypertension. High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke.
Obesity can also make the body’s cells resistant to insulin. Insulin is a hormone that carries sugar from your blood to your cells, where it’s used for energy. If you’re resistant to insulin, the sugar can’t be taken up by the cells, resulting in high blood sugar.
This increases a person’s risk of having type 2 diabetes, a condition where your blood sugar is too high. Type 2 diabetes is linked to a range of other health issues, including heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, amputation, and blindness.
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar on top of excess body fat can make the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart become hard and narrow. Hardened arteries, also called atherosclerosis, can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Diabetes and high blood pressure are also common causes of chronic kidney disease.
Reproductive system
Obesity can make it more difficult for a woman to get pregnant. It can also increase a woman’s risk of having serious complications during pregnancy.
