Overweight people don’t just have to worry about not being able to fit into small sizes. Weighing more than you should can present many problems not only in terms of your social life or your romantic possibilities but also in the quality of life you lead and the health of your body.

Obesity, to be technical about it, is classified as 20 percent more than the average or ideal body weight. The average body weight measurement can be found on body mass index charts in hospitals and even on the Internet. For people who have not reached the 20 percent mark, they are said to be just overweight and not obese.

But whether you are obese or overweight, the possible problems and diseases that can develop remain the same for both. In fact, both being overweight and obese can be deadly, especially if they are not taken seriously and action is not taken immediately.

When you think about it, it’s not really obesity that’s the problem, but the complications that a person develops when they’re overweight. Studies have presented the number of potential problems that can arise when your body mass index is way over the rails. In addition, the risk of death increases as the rate of obesity increases.

Below are some of the dangers that overweight and obese people may face. Read on and it might serve as a wake-up call to start eating right and crunch those muscles.

Hypertension.

This is perhaps the biggest problem faced by overweight and obese people. Hypertension or what is commonly known as high blood pressure increases the chances of a heart attack occurring. This is because when excess fat accumulates, sodium is retained, which in turn absorbs water. The water flows through the bloodstream, abnormally increasing the volume of blood pumped by the heart. This makes the work of the heart much more difficult, putting pressure and stress on the organ.

Diabetes

Another problem that can occur when people are overweight or obese is the second type of diabetes. While the first type of diabetes is congenital, type 2 diabetes is mainly due to the person’s lifestyle, particularly their diet and intake of fats and sugar. This happens because fats in the body can make the body resist insulin.

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The presence of an abnormally high number of fats in the blood, especially the bad ones called LDL (bad cholesterol), can clog the arteries and lead to a stroke.

Osteoarthritis

When one is heavier than one’s legs can support, this puts undue pressure on the joints of the legs and feet. Unknowingly, tears and wear can develop in the cartilage, leading to this problem that is often seen in older people.

Sleep apnea

Believe it or not, your weight can also affect the way you sleep at night. The more overweight a person is, the more severe their sleep apnea will be.

gallstones

This is also quite common for people who are very overweight, although so far, the connection between the presence of gallstones and weight is still unclear.

Cancer

Because there are so many conditions and complications that can develop when one is overweight, this whole problem can lead to cancer if not diagnosed right away.