Transcript

Being overweight has massive damaging and depressing effects on ourselves and those around us.   It gives me no pleasure to list these things, but it is important you know the risks you may be taking.

First, we look at your overall lifespan.  A 20-35-year-old adult man with a BMI of 45 he will have his life expectancy reduced by 13 years to just 69 years old and a BMI over 35 would reduce your life by 8 years.  But life expectancy is not everything – obesity means you will have between 11 to 19 fewer years of healthy life and you will be at higher risk of:

  • Heart attacks and heart failure
  • T2DM
  • Cancer – endometrial, breast, and colon, prostate, lung, gallbladder
  • Stroke
  • Liver disease
  • Osteoarthritis and back pain
  • Pregnancy complications
  • Depression/anxiety

In addition to a wide range of other problems and many more that are listed here and below.

  • HTN
  • High cholesterol
  • Gallbladder disease – gallstones
  • GERD
  • Sleep apnoea
  • Increase lung infections
  • Abnormal periods
  • Urinary incontinence

But it is not just about what problems it gives you but also about what it takes away from you.  Many people and studies have reported being obese equate to a loss of movement, of energy, of fitness, and for many feel less “sexy and beautiful”, which I acknowledge is a loaded term and of course subjective – overweight people can be attractive and sexy to people and in particular certain cultures.  With less energy, we have less to give for your family and of course, we are always role modelling for our families. Being overweight is also associated with:

  • Lower   – which spirals into less movement, which brings less pleasure in life, less experience and eventually depression
  • Bullying and prejudgement at school or in the workplace
  • Affect employment – Some studies have shown it is harder for overweight people to get a job and have a lower income than non-obese people
  • And of course the economic costs to each person from loss of income from not being able to work as much due to illness

References:

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587%2814%2970229-3/abstract

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16418544

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/195748

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30175-1/abstract

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/featurednews/title_500331_en.html

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-consequences/economic/

https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/health-topics/obesity-and-overweight