Morbid Obesity Destroys your Health

Obesity is associated with increased risk of disease and death. Health risks increase dramatically as the BMI increases. We can list a number of medical problems directly related to morbid obesity. This is a partial listing only.

Cardiovascular problems:

High blood pressure results from many factors. Some of them are the result of the overloading of the vascular system and the heart due to excess weight. Also some of the respiratory and possibly kidney problems caused by obesity contribute to hypertension.

Coronary heart disease results from many factors. Some of the more important include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and limited physical activity. All of these factors are strongly associated with morbid obesity.

Cor pulmonale is the failure of the right heart to adequately pump blood through the lungs. This is the result of the obesity affecting the lung function for a long time.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopaty is the failure of the left heart to pump blood through the rest of the body. This frequently is the result of long-standing hypertension.

Metabolic problems:

High cholesterol and lipids are very common in the morbidly obese person. They tend to develop as a result of the imbalance of intake and output of fat that the obese person commonly has. Moreover, there is also a decrease in the “good” cholesterol, which further increases the risk to develop vascular diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, poor circulation in the legs and others.

Diabetes mellitus type II is the result of overburdening the insulin system of the body due to morbid obesity. This eventually results in failure of insulin production and development of frank diabetes. This is one of the most serious diseases because of its frequency, its lack of significant problems initially, the devastating long-term consequences and the significant shortening of life that it produces.

Pulmonary problems:

Obstructive sleep apnea is one of the most common problems related to obesity. It causes episodes in which the person stops breathing for periods of time during sleep. The person also has poor sleeping patterns and daytime sleepiness. It may be a common cause of hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and cor pulmonale.

Blood clots in the lungs are a life-threatening consequence of morbid obesity. The clots tend to form in the legs and if they become loose, the can lodge in the heart or lungs effectively blocking the circulation and causing from shortness of breath to death.

Asthma can be made much more severe by obesity.

Gastrointestinal problems:

Gallbladder disease is frequently seen in the morbidly obese person. Gallstones develop from poor dietary habits, genetic predisposition and are more common in females, probably as a result of women's hormones. Also, gallstones are more frequent in those people in whom their weight changes significantly. The so called “yo-yo dieting”. The gallbladder can become inflamed as a result, requiring surgical removal.

Fatty liver is commonly seen in the morbidly obese. Under these circumstances, the liver accumulates fat, which causes chronic inflammation and abnormal liver tests in the blood. In extreme cases, it can lead to cirrhosis.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is very common in the morbidly obese. This is the result of the excessive pressure developed in the abdomen due to large deposits of fat. Reflux leads to inflammation, ulceration or narrowing of the esophagus. In severe cases, it can lead to significant lung problems.

Cancer of the colon is more frequent in obese males than in males of normal weight.

Genitourinary problems:

Infertility is more common in the morbidly obese female. This may be associated with the polycystic ovary syndrome , both of which contribute to infertility.

High risk pregnancy is common among morbidly obese women. It can lead to diabetes and preeclampsia during pregnancy. Also deliveries tend to be more difficult.

Urinary stress incontinence is the result of excessive pressure on the bladder from fatty tissues in the abdomen. Loss of urine is common with coughing, sneezing or straining. Cancer of the uterus is more common in morbidly obese females. In males, cancer of the prostate is more common in the obese.

Miscellaneous problems:

Degenerative osteoarthritis of weight-bearing joints is much more common in the morbidly obese. Our joints have evolved to support much less weight than that found in the severely obese. As a result, the joints wear out with development of significant disability. Moreover, when surgery is necessary to treat this problem, the results are unsatisfactory over the long term.

Hernias are much more common in the morbidly obese. The outward pressure generated by the excess fatty tissue can easily lead to ruptures in the abdominal wall.

Blood clots and poor venous circulation in the legs are the result of increased pressure inside the abdomen. This blocks the return of blood. The slow transit of blood through the legs favors formation of clots, development of leg swelling and even formation of ulcers that heal very slowly, if at all.

Morbid obesity is a significant risk factor for breast cancer .

Morbid obesity leads to lack of mobility and accident propensity . Patients with clinically severe obesity are frequent targets of discrimination leading to depression, isolation and loss of self esteem.