Morbid obesity is a growing problem in America. It is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or more, or being about 100 pounds or more over your ideal weight range. Individuals who are morbidly obese are more likely to be affected by a number of diseases and conditions. Not every morbidly obese person will be affected by all of these things, but statistical chances go up significantly as weight increases.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes is one of the most commonly seen effects of morbid obesity. This is a type of diabetes that occurs through the loss of insulin--either through a patient's body resisting it, or the pancreas ceasing to produce enough. There is a direct link between the amount of fatty tissue in a person and the ability of that person's cells to become resistant to insulin. Morbidly obese individuals, therefore, are more at risk.
Pulmonary Diseases
High blood pressure and heart disease are two possible effects of morbid obesity. According to a paper by Robert H. Eckel, M.D., people who are obese are three times more likely to have high blood pressure than an average-sized person. When weight decreases, so does the blood pressure. Doctors used to believe that obesity did not play a role in coronary heart disease. However, Dr. Eckel states that several studies over a long-term period have proven that there is a link that increases risk with age.
Bone Disorders
Morbid obesity can affect the severity of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in patients. In people who have osteoarthritis, extra weight places additional strain on the places where a person's cartilage has worn down. Rheumatoid arthritis has the opposite symptoms--the cartilage is inflamed and swells up, but the effects of obesity are much the same.
Reproductive and Hormonal Disorders
Morbidly obese women run the risk of several reproductive disorders. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine released a paper in 2008, chronicling the different disorders that may occur. Morbidly obese women run an increased risk of irregular menstruation as well as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). While infertility is not directly linked to morbid obesity, it can be caused by ovulatory dysfunction. Due to increased hormone production, morbidly obese women may be more prone to excess body hair.
Respiratory Disorder
A 2005 study by the Harvard School of Public Health showed that there is a plausible link between obesity and asthma. Many patients admitted with first-time asthma attacks are obese, as their lungs are under-expanded, making it more difficult for them to draw breath. Sleep apnea can also be caused by morbid obesity. Fat deposits around a person's airway can cause her to stop breathing while sleeping.
Mental and Social Effects
People who are morbidly obese are more likely to be depressed. They may find themselves feeling unattractive in a society that values thinness. New York University's program for surgical weight loss cites a 1991 study showing that 80 percent of morbidly obese persons felt shunned and discriminated against. They stated that potential employers had discriminated against them in hiring practices, and that doctors had treated them unfairly.
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