Weighing the Risks: How Extra Pounds Affect the Entire Body
BRAIN As BMI increases, so does the risk of stroke. Obesity can be tied to depression and anxiety.
THROAT Sleep apnea, which can be due to an airway narrowed by neck fat, causes you to stop breathing multiple times during the night.
ESOPHAGUS Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophageal cancer are sometimes linked to carrying extra weight.
BACK Being heavier means having a higher chance of back pain.
HEART The long list of risks includes heart disease, heart attack, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart failure.
LUNGS The possibility of asthma increases.
LIVER Fatty liver disease and cirrhosis are risks.
PANCREAS Your body can lose the ability to properly use insulin, leading to diabetes.
GALLBLADDER You are at an increased risk of gallstones and an enlarged gallbladder.
REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS Women can face abnormal periods and infertility. Men may struggle with erectile dysfunction.
KIDNEYS Diabetes and high blood pressure due to obesity can lead to kidney disease and kidney failure.
COLON Obesity has been linked to colon cancer.
KNEES Extra weight can wear down the joints, leading to osteoarthritis.
Click on each point to see the affect on that part of the body.
