Obesity Hazards

Obesity, though not directly responsible for causing death, certainly causes premature passing away of a person. Here are some major hazards of obesity.

Obesity and life expectancy

Extensive researches indicate that obesity is a major factor that reduces life expectancy. In a case of persons ranging from 40 to 70 in age, amoung those who were overweight by 30%, the rate of mortality was higher by 42% in case of men and 36% in the case of women.

Social and psychological problems

Fat persons are often made the targets of fun. Because of that they develop an inferioritycomplex or they suffer psychological disorders. They lack self-confidence and find it difficult to get along with other people because of their shyness.

Obesity and surgery

A lot of contemplation is required on the part of a surgeon before he performs an operation on a fat patient. It is difficult to locate the affected part of the body under the mass of fat. Then perform the operation. The patient has to be given anaesthesia before the operation is performed it is not only dangerous but also difficult to administer anaesthesia to a fat person. Their breathing is very shallowas the movement of diaphragm is hindered. Anaesthesia is likely to affect his breathing adversely. Post surgical recovery is also very slowin fat persons.

Reproductive system

Extra fat in obese persons adversely affects their nerves and endocrine glands. Fat women suffer from menorrhagia, infertility and several other disorders of menstruation. Obesity creates many problems during pregnancy and problems like toxaemia, difficulties in delivery, post-delivery bleeding, death of mother or the child etc. Fat women sometimes do not have normal deliveries. A caesarian operation is required in the cases of most of the fat women.

Excretory system

Degenerative changes in the kidneys occur more severely and early in obese persons. Fat people perspire profusely. A fat person has to spend a lot of energy to do any physical work. Layers of fat deposited on the body act as woollen jackets or sweaters and cause perspiration which emits a foul odour.