What’s Wrong with Being Fat?

fat scale

Obesity Statistics

There has been a dramatic increase in obesity in US over past 20 years.
  • More than 64% of US adults are overweight or obese
  • Globally there are more than 1 billion overweight adults
  • Risk of death increases as BMI increases
  • Obesity accounts for as much as 7% of total health care costs in some countries
  • The CDC reports that 250,000 people die annually due to living a sedentary lifestyle.  That’s 200,000 more than die in car accidents.

Health Consequences

Overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for many diseases and health conditions, including te following:
  • Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
  • Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Sleep apnea and respiratory difficulties
  • Some cancers (endometrial, breast, prostate, kidney and colon)
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (heartburn)
  • Chronic musculoskeletal problems (back pain)
  • Skin problems
  • Infertility
  • Urinary incontinence

A new study from Kaiser Permanente found that people in their 40s with large bellies have nearly twice the risk of developing cognitive problems later in life - even if your weight is under control!


About Type 2 Diabetes

  • 90% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese
  • High blood-sugar levels in diabetics damage body tissues
  • Diabetes is a major cause of kidney failure
  • Diabetes is the leading cause of adult-onset blindnes
  • Over 1/2 of limb amputations are caused by diabetes
  • Diabetes is the 3rd leading cause of death in the US

About Hypertension

  • Severely obese people are 6 times more likely to develop heart disease
  • High blood pressure is often called a silent killer because people often don’t know they have it

Social Issues

Research from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale found a woman risks discrimination when her BMI reaches 27. You aren’t imagining that you are being treated differently because of your weight. Weight discrimination is real.

We all know how if feels to be the "fat kid". We wouldn't wish that feeling on anyone, yet we have been willing to accept it for ourselves. Why? Could it be that even you don’t think you deserve to be happy? You do.

You Can Do Something About It

For overweight or obese people, losing just 10% of your current weight will lower your risk of developing obesity related diseases. You can fix this. Don’t think of it as needing to lose 50 lbs. or 100 lbs. Think of it as needing to lose a pound at a time. You don’t even need to lose all your excess weight to improve your health. You do need to decide that you are ready to put yourself and your health first and do something about your weight problem once and for all.


“Health is not simply the absence of sickness.”

                                                                                     — Hannah Green