- Unfortunately, fast food obesity is a major risk factor of ten very serious diseases and health problems.
- These factors include: sleep apnea, heart disease, arthritis and respiratory problems.
Fast food obesity is increasing at an alarming rate throughout the United States. According to the CDC, in 1994 the rates of obesity across all 50 states did not exceed 19% of the population. In most states, the rate was less than 14%. In 2007, only one state – Colorado – had obesity rates of less than 19%. In most of the states, the rate was greater than 25%. Unfortunately, fast food obesity is a major risk factor of ten very serious diseases and health problems.
#1 Heart Disease
Of all the diseases caused by fast food obesity, heart disease is one of the most common and most devastating. Large amounts of body fat usually result in higher levels of LDL cholesterol and lower levels of HDL. Both factors can increase your risk of heart disease which is the number one cause of death in the United States.
#2 Diabetes (Type 2)
One of the fastest growing obesity related diseases is diabetes. With diabetes, your pancreas can not produce enough insulin to covert sugars into energy for your cells. The rest of the sugar ends up floating around in your blood and causing damage.
#3 Dyslipidemia
Dyslipidemia could be considered a junk food obesity related illness. That’s because the disease occurs when LDL levels and triglycerides are abnormally high. Having this condition puts you at greater risk of coronary heart disease, and most physicians attribute its development directly to weight gain.
#4 Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Women who are overweight or obese have a higher likelihood of developing this disorder which is one of the main causes of infertility in females who are within reproductive age. The condition causes irregular menstrual cycles and excess hair growth. Additionally, the disease is associated with insulin resistance which means it is also a factor in the development of diabetes in women.
#5 Sleep Apnea
Many people with weight problems attribute their lack of energy to their size but many of them actually have a disorder known as sleep apnea. While sleeping, you literally stop breathing and this causes you to wake up suddenly. You may be unaware of the sleep disruption but it does prevent you from getting a restful sleep and can sometimes be dangerous.
#6 Arthritis
While most people think of arthritis as a disease for older people only, the condition is simply caused by strain on the joints over time. When you wear more than your body can handle, the strain is greater and causes arthritis to develop much earlier.
#7 Blount’s Disease
Obesity is especially dangerous to growing children. Blount’s disease is a condition that develops when too much weight is placed on the growing bones in the lower half of the body. This extra weight can cause growth to be abnormal.
#8 Respiratory Problems
Just as being overweight puts more stress on your heart, it also causes your lungs to work harder in order to get the oxygen needed where it needs to faster. Plus, conditions such as plague build-up from high cholesterol in the arteries can make it harder for oxygen to move free through your system. Breathing problems, including asthma, are also more common in obese people.
#9 Liver Damage
#10 Stroke
A stroke is caused by a blockage in the arteries supplying blood to the brain. When the blood and the oxygen it carries can’t reach the brain, the cells begin to die off causing permanent brain damage and even brain death. These blockages are more common in overweight people because they are more likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and/or plague build-up which increases the risk of this life-threatening condition.
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