While almost everyone knows that being obese is not good for us, many people who are obese do not know exactly how dangerous the consequences really are.

While obesity itself does not technically kill people, between 100,000 to 400,000 Americans die from the diseases that come with it each year. Even at the lower estimates, it is still a massive death toll; much greater than other causes of death which get a lot more press attention.

So, who exactly is classed as being obese? A formula called the body mass index, or BMI, is used to work out who is obese. While those with BMIs of 25 to 29 are classified as being overweight, those at 30 to 40 are considered obese. Regardless of exactly where you come on this scale, it is important to know the dangers of carrying around too much weight.

Keep in mind that the heart must work 24/7 to pump blood to supply and move this extra weight, and there is no replacing a heart if it fails. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US, and those with a BMI of 25 or greater are twice as likely as anyone to die from it.

Since over 80% of people who suffer from Type 2 Diabetes are also overweight, there is also a definite link between obesity and diabetes. Furthermore, it appears that being overweight increases the risk of some types of cancers, such as that of the kidneys and colon.

Those are just a few of the fatal diseases that have been linked to being obese. Diseases that are usually not life threatening, but affect quality of life, such as Osteoarthritis, are also a much greater risk for those who are overweight.

Those who are obese need to take action if they are serious about their health. While there is a lot of information out there, it is always a good idea to check with a physician.

The majority of the information you can find on the Internet and other places is great, but there is also a significant portion which is put out just to sell diet and weight loss programs. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Losing weight almost always requires a healthy diet and exercise to burn the extra pounds off.

By first being aware of the dangers of obesity, people can hopefully be motivated to lose weight. Those at risk should check their BMI and take action today.
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