The Dangers of Being Overweight and How to Deal with It

Obesity has a negative impact on the heart. People who are obese generally have high blood pressure, high levels of “bad” cholesterol, and low levels of “good” cholesterol. Obesity also leads to insulin resistance, which over time leads to high blood sugar levels and the development of diabetes. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes are known risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease. Even if you don’t have any of these factors, your heart may still be at risk. People with severe obesity have a four times higher risk of developing heart failure.

Research shows the link between obesity and heart failure persists independent of other risk factors. This means that if you are obese, you are still at increased risk of heart failure, even if you don’t have high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. Obesity leads to heart failure in several ways. Excess fat in the body causes an increase in blood volume, which forces the heart to work harder. This causes harmful changes in the structure and function of the heart, which eventually lead to heart failure. Fatty tissue, especially in the abdominal area, produces toxic substances that damage the heart muscle. Even without obvious signs of heart disease, people who are obese can develop chronic heart damage. Fighting obesity can be difficult, but there are some positive facts that can help you in this standoff. Any weight loss is beneficial. Losing just 3-5% of your body weight will reduce your bad cholesterol and blood glucose levels. Continued weight loss will help lower blood pressure and “bad” cholesterol levels and increase “good” cholesterol levels. There is even evidence that losing weight can reverse some of the damage and dysfunction of the heart. Fatty degeneration of the heart can be caused by various reasons, but the main reason is excess body weight. Excess fat is deposited not only in visible places under the skin, but also in internal organs, which disrupts their functioning.