Impact of Overweight and Obesity

on Physical Health

Being overweight or obese can significantly affect our physical health.  The health affects are proportional to the degree of overweight or obesity.  So, as BMI increases, the risk of associated medical conditions worsens. As shown in the previous page, excess weight can increase the risk of having many other chronic and serious medical conditions, including: (1)

• Impaired immune function
• Impaired respiratory functions
• Infections following wounds
• Infertility
• Liver disease
• Low back pain
• Obstetric and gynecological complications
• Pain
• Pancreatitis
• Sleep apnea
• Stoke
• Urinary stress incontinence
• Other medical conditions. 
• Arthritis
• Birth defects

• Various cancers
• Cardiovascular disease
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Daytime sleepiness
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Type 2 diabetes
• End-stage renal disease
• Gallbladder disease
• Gout
• Heart disorders
• Hypertension

Read more on Type 2 Diabetes

Morbid obesity, also called clinically severe or extreme obesity, means that a person has a BMI of 40 or greater which generally corresponds to being 100 lbs or more over the ideal weight. 

• Approximately 9 million people – 4.7% of the US population -- suffer from morbid obesity. 
• People with morbid obesity tend to have multiple health problems and are at higher risk for the conditions listed above.
• The prevalence of morbid obesity increased from 2.9% in 1988-1994 to 4.7% in 1999-2000. (2)
• Black females have a higher rate of morbid obesity than any other group.

For comparisons among different gender, age and racial groups visit American Obesity Association

Read more on:

• National Initiative on Physical Fitness for Children and Youth with Disabilities
• Treatment of Overweight and Obesity
• Disparities in Overweight and Obesity

Sources:

(1) American Obesity Association

(2) Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Ogden CL, Johnson, CL, Prevelance and trends in obesity among US adults: 1999-2000, JAMA 2002, 288(14): 1772-3. Based on the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1988-94 and 1999-2000.

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Page last updated: 10/02/2006

ACT for Health, Adolescent and Child Targets for Health Foundation, Inc., is an educational and charitable non-profit, non-governmental organization, tax-exempt under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.