Health Risks of Obesity

Apart from psychological problems that obese people experience such as depression, sexual problems and social isolation, obesity can cause potentially serious health problems, including:

• High triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
• Type 2 Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Metabolic syndrome — a combination of high blood sugar, high blood pressure, high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Cancer, including cancer of the uterus, cervix, endometrium, ovaries, breast, colon, rectum, esophagus, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidney and prostate
• Breathing disorders, including sleep apnea — a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly starts and stops
• Gallbladder disease
• Gynecological problems, such as infertility and irregular periods
• Erectile dysfunction and sexual health issues
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease — a condition in which fat builds up in the liver and can cause inflammation or scarring
• Osteoarthritis