For a long time, some people have mistakenly believed that being overweight or obese signifies good nutrition. In reality, obesity does not equate to good nutrition. Like being underweight, it is caused by nutritional disorders, differing only in the amount of fat stored in the body. Obesity is not merely an excess of body fat; it is also associated with deficiencies in certain nutrients.For instance, many obese children often suffer from deficiencies in trace elements like iron and calcium, leading to various nutritional disorders such as iron-deficiency anemia and rickets. Obesity Predisposes to Various Vascular Diseases Beyond excessive subcutaneous fat accumulation, obese individuals also experience fat buildup within visceral organs and throughout the body's vascular system. This predisposes them to multiple vascular diseases, particularly life-threatening cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions.Research indicates that the incidence of hypertension among obese individuals is 1.5 to 3 times higher than in normal-weight individuals. Moreover, the higher the degree of obesity, the greater the incidence of hypertension and the more pronounced the increase in blood pressure. Among severely obese individuals, the incidence of hypertension exceeds 50%. Conversely, implementing weight loss measures to reduce body weight leads to a corresponding decrease in blood pressure.
Obesity Prone to Induce Diabetes
While obesity cannot be considered the direct cause of diabetes, its role in triggering the condition cannot be overlooked. Numerous studies confirm that the higher the degree of obesity, the greater the incidence of diabetes. Currently, among economically developed countries, diabetes is the most prevalent disease triggered by obesity.Approximately one-third of adults with diabetes are obese. Nearly all obese individuals exhibit elevated fasting blood glucose levels to varying degrees.
Obesity predisposes to musculoskeletal disorders
The excessive weight borne by obese individuals places additional strain on the musculoskeletal system—particularly the spine and lower limbs.Bones, joints, and other tissues that sustain excessive weight over time are akin to carrying unnecessary burdens daily. Over time, this inevitably leads to cumulative strain, resulting in arthritis, muscle strain, or spinal nerve root compression. This causes aches in the waist, legs, shoulders, and back, and may even lead to joint deformities, severely impairing limb mobility.
Obesity predisposes individuals to numerous other diseases
Obesity elevates blood cholesterol levels, increasing bile concentration. Combined with abdominal fat compression hindering bile flow, this significantly raises the risk of gallstones. Additionally, obesity often involves fatty liver accumulation, leading to fatty liver disease and cirrhosis.Obese individuals are susceptible to various skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis vulgaris, keratosis pilaris, seborrheic dermatitis, acanthosis nigricans, skin atrophy lines, varicose veins in the lower limbs, and thrombophlebitis.Moreover, severely obese individuals frequently exhibit mental abnormalities. Mild cases manifest as persistent distress and anxiety, while severe cases may cause sensory and motor impairments, muscle spasms and convulsions, unsteady standing and walking, and even suicidal tendencies.