The Risks of Being Overweight in Jacksonville FL
Trying to get the perfect body by starving yourself is clearly unhealthy and extremely dangerous. But dismissing your extra stores of fat as "pleasantly plump" or being "big-boned" is equally risky. Being overweight or obese in Jacksonville FL is not just a matter of choice and being comfortable in your own skin - it's a medical problem.
At Advanced Medical Centers in Jacksonville, Florida, our experienced medical team treats many patients who find that carrying extra weight causes some unwanted, and sometimes severe, health issues. If you're among the more than 33% of people who weigh more than 20% of what's ideal for your height and age, here's what could happen if you don't bring your weight down.
It's hard to breathe
Extra girth makes it hard to breathe. Your lungs may not expand to full capacity, making it hard to exercise or even walk up to your driveway or staircase. And if you have COPD or asthma, being overweight exacerbates these conditions.
Liver and kidney problems
There are two kinds of fat: subcutaneous fat is under your skin and visceral fat surrounds your organs. Visceral fat is especially dangerous because it can compromise the function of your liver, called fatty liver disease. If fat invades your kidneys, they may fail to filter your blood, which leads to a buildup of waste in your system.
Arthritis
Fat cells may seem like idle or dormant storage pockets, but they're actually very busy producing hormones and causing inflammation. Information is the enemy of joints, causing damage to your cartilage in a condition called osteoarthritis. Every pound of weight you lose helps take the pressure off your joints and reduces inflammation.
High cholesterol
Your body needs some cholesterol to build cells and make certain hormones, but it produces all it needs. When you eat animal products like meat, eggs, and cheese, you introduce more cholesterol to your system and overwhelm it. This leads to a waxy build-up in your arteries called atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart disease and stroke.
Type 2 diabetes
Your body produces insulin to regulate your blood sugar levels, but excess belly fat is linked to insulin resistance. When your blood sugar remains high, you have type 2 diabetes and possibly nerve, heart, and eye problems. Most people who have diabetes are also overweight.
High blood pressure
The bigger your body is, the harder your heart works to pump blood through it. The extra force needed can damage the walls of your arteries over time.
Sleep apnea
If your neck is fat, it compresses your airway when you sleep and restricts the flow of oxygen. In addition to loud snoring, this causes sleep apnea, a condition that can halt your breathing and become life-threatening.
Pregnancy problems
If you're pregnant or trying to be, it's important to control your weight because extra fat increases your risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and C-sections. It also puts your baby at risk of premature birth, miscarriage, stillbirth, brain damage, birth defects, impaired growth, and spinal cord problems.
Cancer
The same habits that caused you to gain weight (like a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy diet) may also lead to certain cancers. Fat cells also trigger hormones that are linked to cancer. Obese people are more likely to have breast, colon, endometrial, and kidney cancer.
Take control of your weight and your health in Jacksonville FL
Most of these conditions are preventable and often reversible if you lose weight. A healthy diet and regular exercise are a must if you plan to get serious about reclaiming control of your weight and overall health. But sometimes it's not that simple.
Out of frustration and impatience, many people turn to miracle cures and fad diets that not only don't work but can be extremely dangerous.
At Advanced Medical Centers, we approach weight loss from a medical perspective. Our weight-loss program is not a club you join or an accountability group, it's a scientifically proven, comprehensive lifestyle analysis and customized treatment plan designed for you by our expert medical team.
Yes, we include diet and exercise, but it's so much more, including body analysis, overall health exam, diagnostic tests, support from our medical professionals and nutritionists, and identification and treatment of any health issues that may be thwarting your weight-loss efforts.
Now that you understand the important connection between your weight and your health, give us a call or book a consultation online to turn your life around today.
