While people do not technically die of obesity, between 100,000 to 400,000 Americans die from the diseases that come with it each year. Even at the conservative estimates, it is still a huge death toll; much higher than other causes of death which receive a lot more press attention.

Remember that the heart must pump blood 24 hours a day to supply and move this extra weight, and there is no replacing a heart if it fails. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US, and those with a BMI of above 25 have at least twice the risk of dying from it.

As over 80% of people who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes are also overweight, there is also a definite link between obesity and diabetes. Furthermore, it appears that being overweight increases the risk of some types of cancers, such as that of the kidneys and colon.

Those are just some of the fatal diseases that have been linked to being obese. Diseases which are usually not life threatening, but affect quality of life, such as Osteoarthritis, are also a much greater risk for those who are overweight.

 

Those who are overweight need to take action if they are serious about their health. While there is a ton of information out there, it is advisable to check with a physician.

 

Much of the information you can find on the Internet is of great value, but there is also a significant portion which is put out just to sell diet and weight loss programs. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Losing weight almost always requires a healthy diet and exercise to burn the extra pounds off.

 

Awareness of the dangers of obesity should be motivation enough for people to lose weight. Those at risk should check their BMI and take action today.

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