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Obesity Symptoms

Obesity: Symptoms


Top Symptoms

1. Osteoarthritis and gallstones

Severe pain in the joints, especially the knees, is experienced because of the tremendous weight that they bear. Greater body mass also means greater chances of urate crystals in the body. Thus, the person is at a greater risk of developing gout and arthritis. Another symptom of obesity is the formation of gallstones. Since obese individuals produce greater cholesterol, the bile produced in their bodies also has greater cholesterol. This excess cholesterol is not assimilated and could lead to formation of stones in the gall bladder. Add to this the fact that gallbladders of obese people do not have the capacity to empty completely and normally, and you will realize the intense pain that results from this.

2. Cardiac complaints

Obesity and cardiac stroke are almost synonymous with each other today. The size of the heart of a human adult is more or less constant. Thus, a huge mass puts tremendous strain on the heart. This means an increased blood pressure. Again, this leads to strain on the blood vessels. So, even a slight blockage in the blood vessel could lead to disastrous consequences when compared to a normal weight person. Thus, people with obesity have an increased chance of contracting stroke, congestive heart failure, diabetes and high cholesterol levels in the blood. In fact, some studies have even linked obesity to exhibit itself as colon cancer, breast cancer or uterine cancer!

3. Skin infections and rashes

If a person is very high on the BMI, then he/she becomes more susceptible to skin infections. The overgrown tissues stretch the skin into thick folds almost everywhere on the body. These folds begin to accumulate moisture that encourages the growth of bacteria, fungi and other pathogens. Thus, skin infections result and rashes are a common symptom in obese patients.

4. Varicose veins

The veins below the surface of the skin get damaged, become filled with blood and swell. This is a very painful condition and usually occurs in the legs. The veins are the blood vessels that transport blood back to the heart from the various parts of the body. When they get stressed and strained, working overtime and extra hard, varicose veins result. Though they manifest in people who stand for long hours due to the hard work that the veins have to perform against gravity, obesity also creates the same difficulty for the veins. The veins may get constricted and damaged due to extra layers of tissues.

5. Sleep apnea

People with obesity often suffer from sleep disorders. Sleep apnea is a common complaint and symptom. This is a disorder which causes the person to stop breathing for short periods of time whilst asleep. While each occurrence lasts about 20-30 seconds, sometimes, one may experience hundreds of apneas each night, thus finding it almost impossible to sleep. This happens because the airways in the nose and throat become partially or completely blocked due to the large tonsils, large tongue or excessive tissue: all are common in obese people.

6. Problems in performing daily activities

A large frame also means a lot of pressure and strain on the heart. It also involves energy expenditure to perform the smallest activity. Thus, we often see such people becoming lethargic. They are averse to physical work which only makes the condition worse. Often, any kind of strenuous activity results in breathlessness. This happens because of two reasons: greater respiration needed to do the same work and narrower air channels due to fatty blockages. In extreme cases, obese people often choke into exhaustion while involved in physical labor.

7. BMI above 30

This is the primary and most distinguishable symptom of obesity. In fact, it is the defining measure for obesity. Using only the weight as an indicator would not be right because optimum weight depends on age, gender and most importantly, the height of an individual. Obesity is usually determined by using the Body Mass Index or BMI as it is known in everyday parlance. BMI takes into account all the mentioned factors and, thus, is a reliable measure. A BMI which is greater than 30 indicates obesity. This indicates that the body weight is at least 35-40 percent greater than the ideal body weight. This could be taken as the single most important factor in determining obesity. A high BMI visually exhibits as big bellies, breast region adiposity in boys. flabby upper arms and thighs, knocking knees, disproportionately small male genitalia, early puberty and a disproportionate face.

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