Important Reasons to Lose Unwanted Fat

Did you know that being overweight increases risk factors for a host of problems such as difficulty breathing, sleep apnea, gallbladder disease, pregnancy complications, osteoarthritis and skin problems?

Here’s the scoop on how your weight can lead to the following issues:

1. Breathing problems: Shortness of breath results from poor physical conditioning. Experts note that excess weight results in the body requiring more oxygen, especially during and after physical exertion or exercise. Impaired breathing function can be completely disabling and can end up restricting normal physical activity, which then gets in the way of weight loss.

2. Sleep apnea: Obesity can cause sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder that occurs when a person's breathing is interrupted during sleep. The extra weight presses on the airways and can cause pauses in breathing during sleep.

3. Gallbladder disease and gallstones: The gallbladder stores bile, which is produced in the liver and aids in the digestion of fats in the small intestine. According to The American College of Gastroenterology, bile in the gallbladder becomes concentrated and thickens. Gallstones are then born out of this sludge from cholesterol and bile salts. The end result of the disease process is inflammation or gall stones.

4. Pregnancy complications: One third of adult women in the United States are obese, which is an independent risk factor for spontaneous abortion among women who undergo infertility treatments, gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and gestational . Trying to lose weight prior to pregnancy through healthy diet and exercise can help decrease all of these risks.

5. Osteoarthritis: Research shows that weight-bearing cartilage can tolerate only a certain amount of pounds per square inch. The more pounds per square inch the particular cartilage is subjected to, the earlier it will reach a point of failure. Even a weight loss of 10 to 20 pounds can result in substantial gains.

6. Skin problems: Obesity can cause skin folds, which can lead to yeast overgrowth in the skin. The retained moisture in body folds encourages the growth of bacteria and fungi, leading to skin rashes and a variety of infections.