Being obese or overweight can have severe effects on one’s overall health. Your body’s metabolism can only process a certain amount of nutrient intake and your bones are made to handle a certain weight range. Yet, weight is just a number, body mass index (BMI) is what matters most. For each person, the ideal weight is different; it is based on the types of activities they are involved and on their height.

In order to determine if the individual is at a healthy weight and to give a rough estimate of the body fat percentage, BMI is calculated based on a person’s height and weight. However, BMI cannot be considered as a perfect measure of one’s health because muscles weigh more than fat. A person often falls out of the normal ranges for a healthy BMI if he is extremely muscular. You must visit a physician to determine if you are at a healthy weight and to know the activities you need.

Here are some of the negative effects of being obese:

Coronary Heart Disease

A person with coronary heart disease has a progressive buildup of plaque in the coronary arteries that leads to blockages, thus reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body which can further result in a heart attack.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which the blood sugar levels dangerously rise as a result of insulin sensitivity. This condition occurs in individuals who were born with the ability to make insulin, but over time their cells became unresponsive. The cells were not able to normally take up glucose from the blood like before and this leads to many problems like stroke, heart disease, blindness, improper healing of wounds, and kidney disease. Unhealthy diet, as well as low physical activity level, can also increase one’s risk of type 2 diabetes.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is an increase in the pressure blood puts on the blood vessels, as it is pumped throughout the body. Any increase in blood pressure can lead to stroke and heart problems.

Kidney Disease

When the kidneys are unable to properly filter the toxins out of the body, kidney disease occurs. This leads to a buildup of unhealthy waster products. Kidney disease is often caused by high blood pressure and diabetes.

Stroke

One type of stroke happens when a blood vessel ruptures in the brain, thereby putting pressure on the brain and leads to a loss of blood in multiple areas. Another type is when a blood clot blocks an artery that is carrying blood to the brain. This condition results in a loss of blood flow to an area of the brain, which then causes cell death.

Reproductive Problems

Obesity can cause abnormal menstrual cycles and infertility, thus making it very difficult to get pregnant. During pregnancy, obesity increases the risk of multiple complications for both the child and mother – increased risk of birth defect and stillbirths.

Cancer

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of mutated cells that further leads to healthy cells being unable to function properly. There is no clear evidence why obesity is linked to cancer, yet it has been connected to an increased risk of various types of cancer.

Breathing Problems

Being overweight causes difficulty in breathing because it puts increased pressure on the lungs. It can also lead to other problems like sleep apnea and obesity hypoventilation syndrome.

High Cholesterol

High cholesterol is associated with a decrease in “healthy” fats, called high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and an increase in “unhealthy” fats, called low-density lipoproteins (LDL), in blood. This can increase your risk of heart disease.

Arthritis

When you are overweight, there is an increased pressure on your joint which leads to an additional stress and deterioration.