Being obese means having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, and if you have a BMI of over 25 but under 30, you’re still considered overweight. A healthy BMI is between 19-25. Obesity in itself puts you at risk of developing a number of related health problems, either in the short or long term, so it’s worth taking steps to shed those excess pounds. You can discover your BMI by using a simple online calculator such as iVillage.co.uk's BMI Calculator. Here are some of the problems you can avoid by maintaining a healthy weight.
By Hilary Pereira
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High blood pressure means your heart is having to work extra hard in order to pump blood to your organs, putting it and your arteries under strain.
Infertility
Obesity in men and women can be affected by being overweight, so being obese can reduce your chances of conceiving further.
Type 2 diabetes
Not all obese people will develop Type 2 diabetes, but obesity is known to be a major trigger for this disease which, if unchecked, can lead to a number of serious medical p
Some cancers
Links have been drawn between obesity and the development of certain cancers, including breast cancer in post-menopausal women, uterine cancer, and cancer of the bowel, oesopha
Asthma
It’s thought that the risk of contracting asthma rises with the degree to which individuals are overweight.
Osteoarthritis
Because being obese causes greater wear and tear on the joints, ligaments, tendons and cartilage, overweight people are at risk of osteoarthritis – a long-term disease
Depression
Obesity can cause low self-esteem and poor body image, and this can in turn lead to depression in some people.
Gallstones
The incidence of developing gallstones is higher in people who are overweight or obese.
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA)
This is the medical term for interrupted breathing during sleep and is commoner than other types of apnoea, some of which implicate brain function in sleep.
Gout
Gout is a type of arthritis caused by a build-up in the blood of uric acid.