Obesity is one of the most complex and largely preventable diseases that affects around one-third of the world’s population. If left unattended, it is estimated that around 38% of the young population in the world will be overweight and around 20% will be obese by 2030. Here are some of the common health complications due to obesity in women.
1. Diabetes: Studies have reported a strong association between obesity and type 2 diabetes in both genders. Diabetes in obese women is attributed to insulin resistance, which means the body has to produce more insulin. This overtime forces the pancreas to produce more insulin, which slowly becomes exhausted and cuts down the insulin production. This causes excess accumulation of glucose leading to diabetes.
2. Coronary artery disease: Being overweight or obese means accumulation of excess fat. Studies have shown that obesity is associated with the reduced high density of lipoprotein (HDL, also called as ‘good cholesterol’) and increased triglycerides, which contribute to high levels of lipids in the blood. Moreover, there is a marked increase in blood pressure levels with weight gain. This further increases the risk of coronary heart disease. Studies have also reported an increased risk of heart failure and ischemic stroke in women who are obese.
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3. Respiratory disorders: Several studies have pointed to a link between pulmonary problems such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and asthma with obesity. OSA could be due to increased fat tissue along the airway, which affects the functioning of the airways. Asthma is considered to be a common complication of obesity that increases the airway responses due to obesity-related inflammation.
4. Infertility: Women who are obese are at a higher risk of suffering from PCOS, which is one of the primary causes of infertility. PCOS is characterized by hyperandrogenemia (excess levels of androgens, male hormones, in females), which can lead to infertility. It also causes menstrual abnormalities and anovulation, which reduces the chances of conception. According to a 2008 study published in the Journal Fertility and Sterility, around 30% to 47% of overweight and obese women have irregular menses.
5. Sexual dysfunction: Female sexual dysfunction or psychophysiological disturbances associated with sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, and pain disorders affects approximately 40% of the female population. Obesity is linked to the impaired quality of life and one important aspect of quality of life is sexual functioning.
Obesity can affect the psychological well being of a woman, which can, in turn, impact her sex life.It can lead to difficulties in attaining orgasm, lowers the sex drive and decreases the frequency of sexual intercourse. It also affects sexual satisfaction, which impacts the overall sex life in women (as well as in men).
6. Pregnancy-related complications: Maternal obesity during pregnancy can impact both mother and baby. It not only increases the risk of spontaneous abortion but also puts the mother at a high risk of gestational diabetes and hypertension. Being obese not only prolongs the pregnancy but also causes difficulty during delivery due to increased risk of infections. Kids born to obese mothers have a considerable risk of suffering from childhood obesity and metabolic disorders later in life.
7. Cancer: There are numerous research studies that have suggested obesity as a key risk factor for various types of cancer in women, such as endometrial, ovarian, cervical and breast cancer. This could be due to hormonal imbalances in obese women. For example, high levels of estrogen synthesized from the fat tissue in obese women increase the risk of several types of cancer, such as uterus and breast cancer.
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Bottom line: The health complications caused due to obesity can be prevented if you keep your weight under control. Eating right, staying active and exercising regularly hold the key to maintaining a healthy body weight for better health and fitness.
(The article is reviewed by Dr. Lalit Kanodia, General Physician)
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