| Heart disease and stroke are
the leading causes of death and disability for both men and
women in the United States. If you are overweight, you are
more likely to develop health problems, such as heart disease,
stroke, diabetes, certain types of cancer, gout (joint pain
caused by excess uric acid), and gallbladder disease. Being
overweight can also cause problems such as sleep apnea (interrupted
breathing during sleep) and osteoarthritis (wearing away of
the joints).
The relieving news is that losing a small amount of weight
can reduce your chances of developing heart disease or a stroke.
Reducing your weight by 10 percent can decrease your chance
of developing heart disease by improving how your heart works,
blood pressure, and levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides.
How much do you weigh?
If you are a woman and your waist measures more than 35 inches,
or if you are a man and your waist measures more than 40 inches,
you are more likely to develop heart disease, high blood pressure,
diabetes, and certain cancers. You may want to talk to your
doctor or other health professional about the health risks
of your weight. Check out the following table:
|
Height> |
Max
corresponding weight |
| 5
feet 0 inches |
153
pounds |
| 5
feet 1 inches |
159
pounds |
| 5
feet 2 inches |
164
pounds |
| 5
feet 3 inches |
169
pounds |
| 5
feet 4 inches |
175
pounds |
| 5
feet 5 inches |
180
pounds |
| 5
feet 6 inches |
186
pounds |
| 5
feet 7 inches |
191
pounds |
| 5
feet 8 inches |
197
pounds |
| 5
feet 9 inches |
203
pounds |
| 5
feet 10 inches |
209
pounds |
| 5
feet 11 inches |
215
pounds |
| 5
feet 12 inches |
221
pounds |
Health risks of being overweight?
- Diabetes: Non-insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus (type 2 diabetes) is the most common type of diabetes
in the United States. It is a major cause of early death,
heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and blindness. Overweight
people are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as
people who are not overweight.
- Cancer: Several types of cancer are associated
with being overweight. In women, these include cancer of
the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast, and colon.
In men being overweight can increase chances for developing
cancer of the colon, rectum, and prostate.
- Sleep Apnea: Sleep apnea is a serious
condition that is closely associated with being overweight.
Sleep apnea can cause a person to stop breathing for short
periods during sleep and to snore heavily. Sleep apnea may
cause daytime sleepiness and even heart failure. The risk
for sleep apnea increases with higher body weights. Weight
loss usually improves sleep apnea.
- Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a common
joint disorder that affects the joints in your knees, hips,
and lower back. Extra weight appears to increase the risk
of osteoarthritis by placing extra pressure on these joints
and wearing away the cartilage (tissue that cushions the
joints) that normally protects them.
- Gout: Gout is a joint disease caused
by high levels of uric acid in the blood. Gout is more common
in overweight people and the risk of developing the disorder
increases with higher body weights.
- Gallbladder Disease: Gallbladder disease
and gallstones are more common if you are overweight. Your
risk of disease increases as your weight increases.
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