This What Will Happen to You if You Keep Gaining Weight

Have you put on a few pounds lately? Maybe you are naturally larger but are suddenly carrying an unusual amount of weight.

Perhaps your body chemistry changed so much after pregnancy that your old eating pattern is now causing weight gain. If you have been sidelined by an injury, or have been under intense stress, or started taking a new medication – all of these things can cause unexpected weight gain.

But whatever the reason, getting to the point where you can be classified as obese (having a body mass index of 30 or higher) brings with it a host of health complications.

With no judgment about the cause of your weight gain, we still want to help you turn the tide and get back to a normal weight for you (it does NOT have to be a size 2!). To that end, here are nine cautionary tales about what may happen if you keep gaining those pounds.

Heart Disease and Stroke

Carrying too much weight puts an enormous burden on your heart and circulatory system. Obese people are much more likely to have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, both of which increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. Belly fat, especially, triggers cardiovascular problems.

The good news is that it doesn’t take a ton of weight loss to begin turning the tide. Even modest weight loss has been shown to improve the heart’s ability to contract and relax. But the more you lose, the better protected you will be from the specter of a heart attack or stroke.

Type 2 Diabetes

Most, but not all, people with type 2 diabetes are also overweight. Diabetes occurs when the body’s insulin production can no longer process the amount of blood glucose that’s present. The body then goes to extreme measures to get rid of the excess, potentially leading to health problems like numb feet and hands, blindness, or kidney damage.

The main driver of diabetes is too much sugar and carbs in your diet. You can reduce your risk of diabetes by losing weight, eating balanced meals, getting enough sleep, and being more physically active. Even if you already have diabetes, these measures can reduce your need for medication to control it.

Cancer

Obesity is linked to several types of cancer, including colon, breast (after menopause), uterine, kidney, and esophagus. Some studies suggest a connection between obesity and cancers of the gallbladder, ovaries, and pancreas.

Researchers and medical professionals speculate a connection between this deadly disease and constant, low-level inflammation, which is common in overweight people.

Other potential explanations for the link include the higher amounts of estrogen produced by fat tissue and the presence of excess insulin, which helps cancer grow. If you are obese and worried, set a goal to lose 5% to 10% of your body weight to reduce that risk.

Gallbladder Disease

Many factors play into the development of gallstones, including genetics and the after-effects of pregnancy. But gallbladder disease and gallstones are known to be more common in overweight people. This condition is extremely painful and almost always leads to surgery to remove the gallbladder.

In the case of “damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” weight loss itself can also trigger gallstones. However, it is especially rapid weight loss that tends to do this. Stick to a safe rate of about a pound per week to minimize the risk.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

The first sign of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, will probably be irregular periods. This occurs because high levels of insulin in the body produce more male hormones called androgens. PCOS causes infertility issues and leads to other uncomfortable conditions like acne and abnormal hair growth.

The condition also makes a woman 7x more likely to develop diabetes. PCOS is linked to insulin resistance, which means that a person’s cells can no longer make use of blood sugar for energy; it gets stored as fat instead. The vicious cycle of weight gain and poor health is therefore exacerbated by PCOS.

Depression

In another sticky relationship, the connection between obesity and depression is bidirectional. That means that being obese ups the odds of depression, and being depressed ups the odds of becoming obese.

To put that in real numbers, approximately 43% of people with depression are obese, while only 1/3 of the population, in general, is obese. Put another way, 55% of obese people are likely to become depressed while people with depression are 58% more likely to become obese.

Depression makes it very difficult for a person to practice self-care, especially when it comes to sleeping, eating, and exercising. On the other side, the public perception of obesity as unattractive and related to a character flaw is immensely upsetting and may chip away at self-esteem. Researchers agree that treating obesity and depression together has the best chance of relieving both issues.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a dangerous condition in which a person’s upper airway becomes blocked while they sleep. This can reduce and even temporarily stop airflow. Weight gain is thought to be connected because it packs fat around the neck, narrowing the airway. People with sleep apnea snore heavily and wake up frequently when their airflow is restricted.

Poor sleep will lead to daytime sluggishness, lack of mental clarity, and mood swings. It also makes losing weight much more difficult. If you suspect sleep apnea, get to the doctor for a sleep study. Losing weight can make a huge difference, but you may need to start sleeping better first.

 Osteoarthritis

The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, which has to do with wear and tear on the joints. Osteoarthritis typically affects joints in the knees, hips, and back when the pressure of those extra pounds wears away the cartilage that protects them. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and stiffness.

Losing weight can help to relieve the pressure on these damaged joints and thereby reduce the severity of symptoms. One study determined that each pound of weight loss equals four fewer pounds of pressure on your joints. There is no cure for osteoarthritis, so if you have yet to get it, losing weight now is critical.

Gout

Gout was once considered a disease of the rich, linked as it is to a decadent diet. Henry VIII was a famous sufferer of gout, which has been described as one of the most painful afflictions known to man.

Gout occurs when a fatty diet leads to a build-up of uric acid in the blood. The extra tends to form crystals that deposit in the joints, most commonly at the base of the big toes, but also in ankles, heels, knees, wrists, and fingers.

Being overweight is a risk factor for gout but not an absolute. One of the best things you can do to immediately reduce your risk is to stop consuming high fructose corn syrup, a major contributor to excess uric acid. Other ways to reduce symptoms include staying hydrated and consuming a reasonable daily amount of milk or another dairy product.

We hope that the information in this article has given you the motivation to turn back the progression of unchecked weight gain, whatever the cause. The way forward for you will not be the same as everyone else.

It could involve a customized diet, more exercise, mental health care, or different medication. Remember that making the change is not about how you look, but how you feel. You’re beautiful and valuable just as you are, and you need to stick around for as long as possible.

SHARE THIS

Share

Pin