| Obesity is because of eating too many calories and | | | | (chest pain) and complete blockage of blood flow to |
| not getting enough physical activities to burn those | | | | heart can cause heart attack. |
| calories. Excess calories are deposited in the body as | | | | Stroke or paralysis: |
| fat. | | | | Atherosclerosis in arteries of brain can reduce blood |
| Obesity increases the risk of several health problems | | | | supply to the brain. This decrease in blood flow can |
| like high blood pressure, insulin resistance, type 2 | | | | result in stroke or paralysis. |
| diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, gout, gallstones, colon | | | | Arthritis: |
| cancer, sleep apnea and non-alcoholic fatty liver | | | | Obesity and overweight increases the load on the |
| disease. | | | | joints such as the knee, hip and lower back, which can |
| High blood pressure: | | | | cause the breakdown of cartilage in the joint. Cartilage |
| Blood vessels carry blood from heart to different | | | | is a cushion like structure in a joint required for smooth |
| organs of the body and back to heart. The blood | | | | movement of joints. Breakdown of cartilage in obesity |
| vessels have thick but elastic walls for proper flow of | | | | results in joint pain and stiffness and other features of |
| blood. Decrease in elasticity of blood vessel wall | | | | osteoarthritis. |
| increases pressure on blood passing through these | | | | Gout: |
| vessels. Obesity decreases elasticity of blood vessels | | | | A type of arthritis caused by the accumulation of uric |
| causing increase in blood pressure. | | | | acid crystals in joints. Obesity is associated with |
| Diabetes in obesity: | | | | increased accumulation of these solid crystal-like |
| Insulin is required for entry of carbohydrate into cells | | | | masses in joints, which causes inflammation and pain. |
| from the blood. The carbohydrate in cell is utilized for | | | | Sleep apnea: |
| energy production by the cells. Excess deposition of | | | | Overweight and excess fat around neck causes |
| fat in the body causes insulin resistance, because of | | | | narrowing of airways and leads to sleep apnea. In |
| which, insulin cannot perform its function and sugar | | | | sleep apnea, person snores heavily and stops |
| cannot enter into cells and remain in blood. This leads | | | | breathing for short periods, which results in frequent |
| to diabetes or high blood sugar. High sugar in blood | | | | awakening at night. |
| leads to complications in various organs like kidney, | | | | Fatty liver disease: |
| eyes, blood vessel, and heart. | | | | Obesity increases the risk of developing liver disease |
| Atherosclerosis or fatty deposits in blood vessels: | | | | called fatty liver disease due to accumulation of fat in |
| Obesity is associated with increase in levels of bad | | | | liver. |
| cholesterol in blood. Increase cholesterol in blood | | | | Gallbladder disease and gallstones: |
| causes atherosclerosis or deposition of cholesterol on | | | | Obesity increases cholesterol deposition in gall bladder, |
| the walls of blood vessels. Atherosclerosis reduces | | | | which can lead to formation of gallstones. |
| the elasticity of blood vessels, narrows blood vessels | | | | So, obesity can lead to a lot of health problems and |
| and decreases blood flow through these vessels. All | | | | other complications. For information on role of |
| these changes lead to increased risk of heart disease | | | | carbohydrate and management of obesity, please visit |
| and stroke. | | | | website. |
| Heart diseases: | | | | For details on role of nutrients in various diseases, |
| Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that supply | | | | please visit Diet for Disease and for information on |
| blood to heart muscles. Atherosclerosis or fatty | | | | management of obesity by blocking carbohydrate |
| deposits in coronary arteries in obesity decreases | | | | absorption, please visit |
| blood supply to heart muscles. Decreased oxygen | | | | Carbohydrate in Obesity website. |
| supply and blood flow to heart can cause angina | | | | |