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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

If you're obese, you're more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems, including:

  • Blood (fat) lipid abnormalities
  • Cancer, including cancer of the uterus, cervix, ovaries, breast, colon, rectum and prostate
  • Depression
  • Gallbladder disease
  • Gynecological problems, such as infertility and irregular periods
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Skin problems, such as intertrigo and impaired wound healing
  • Sleep apnea
  • Stroke
  • Type 2 diabetes

Quality of life
When you're obese, your overall quality of life may be lower, too. You may not be able to get around or to perform normal daily activities as well as you'd like. You may have trouble participating in family activities. You may avoid public places. You may even encounter discrimination.

Other issues that may affect your quality of life include:

  • Depression
  • Disability
  • Physical discomfort
  • Sexual problems
  • Shame
  • Social isolation
Preparing for your appointment Risk factors
References
  1. Defining overweight and obesity. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/defining.htm. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
  2. Ogden CL, et al. Obesity among adults in the United States - No statistically significant change since 2003-2004. NCHS data brief no 1. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2007.
  3. Still CD, et al. Obesity. In: Rakel & Bope: Conn's Current Therapy. 60th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/117958748-3/0/1621/295.html#4-u1.0-B978-1. Accessed Feb. 20, 2009.
  4. Bray GA. Etiology and natural history of obesity. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
  5. Kushner RF. Obesity management. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America. 2007;36:191.
  6. Duval K, et al. Health-related quality of life in morbid obesity. Obesity Surgery. 2006;16:574.
  7. Hainer V, et al. Treatment modalities of obesity: What fits whom? Diabetes Care. 2008;31(suppl 2):S269.
  8. Understanding adult obesity. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/understanding.htm. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
  9. Bessesen DH. Update on obesity. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2008;93:2027.
  10. Bray GA. Overview of therapy for obesity in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 26, 2009.
  11. Svetkey LP, et al. Comparison of strategies for sustaining weight loss: The Weight Loss Maintenance Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA. 2008;299:1139.
  12. The practical guide: Identification, evaluation, and treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/prctgd_c.pdf. Accessed Feb. 25, 2009.
  13. Donnelly JE, et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand: Appropriate physical activity intervention strategies for weight loss and prevention of weight regain for adults. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2009;41:459.
  14. Sacks F, et al. Comparison of weight-loss diets with different compositions of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:859.
  15. Mun EC, et al. Surgical management of obesity. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Feb. 26, 2009.
  16. Hensrud DD (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 2, 2009.
  17. Anderson CA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 3, 2009.

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May 9, 2009

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