Five Surprising Effects of Obesity

What are these surprising effects of obesity?

Most people know that obesity is the leading cause of type 11 diabetes. They may also know that it causes many types of cancer. It causes heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and death. All in all, obesity causes a lot of health problems. However, you might be surprised to know that obesity causes some other day to day effects.

1. Depression

Depression and obesity have a very tight connection. It’s theorized that many times obesity is caused by depression. However, it’s also known that obesity causes depression in many individuals. The reasons are complicated.

Often when people are obese, their self esteem and confidence falls dramatically. This usually leads to depression, especially in teenagers and young children who may be facing teasing and bullying at school.

However, obesity also affects a person’s ability to get good sleep. It can actually cause many sleep disorders. Sleep apnea, for example, is often caused by obesity. When a person isn’t able to get quality sleep, their brain chemistry can change. Poor sleep often leads to depression.

Obesity often goes hand in hand with inactivity. Being active and getting exercise releases the “feel good” hormone, serotonin. Inactivity prevents serotonin from being released into the body. The result can be a depression or a chronic bad or low mood.

2. Poor sleep and sleep disorders

Obesity also causes a number of sleep disorders. Sleep is crucial for normal physical and mental functioning. Poor sleep causes irritability and depression. It causes poor functioning. It also causes a weakened immune system. And poor sleep causes a person to gain weight. The good news is that simply getting seven hours of sleep each night can make a world of difference.

3. Poor complexion.

Obesity affects metabolism. It also affects hormone levels and organ functioning. Specifically, it can cause poor liver function, or fatty liver disease. When your liver isn’t functioning well, your complexion can pay the price. It can become yellowed and acne can set in. You may even suffer skin infections due to your weakened immune system.

4. Hair and nails.

An obese body is struggling to function optimally. Several bodily functions are ignored to take care of more important body organs like your heart and lungs.  Fairly early on, you may notice that your hair changes and it may even start to fall out. It may change in texture and become course and brittle. Your nails may also become brittle and yellow as well, due to your weakened immune system and poor liver function.

5. Decreased sexual interest and function.

Libido and sexual function can be drastically impaired in obese people. In fact, many obese people find it difficult to get pregnant. When hormone levels are imbalanced, infertility can be the result. If you’re trying to have children you may also struggle with fertility problems. Fat cells produce hormones. They also inhibit balanced hormone production and your desire for sex will decrease.  Finally, many obese women suffer from gynecological problems like ovarian cysts and endometriosis.

Obesity causes a number of health problems. They range from acne and low libido to depression and death. If you’re struggling with obesity, there’s help. You can regain your health and vitality.

Leave a comment below if you’d like to chime in on the conversation. I’d love to hear what you have to say.