Obesity can cause some serious health problems among people. These health risks may include heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, stroke, gallstones, gall bladder disease, gout, and osteoarthritis. It can also cause breathing problems among some people like sleep apnea, in which a person may stop breathing for sometime during sleep.
If you have a family history of certain chronic diseases like heart disease or diabetes, then you are at an increased risk of developing these problems on becoming overweight or obese. Some medical conditions such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol may also sound warnings signs for serious obesity-related risks.
The most standard measure of obesity is body mass index or BMI. However, your waist circumference can also tell a lot about obesity-related conditions that may develop in future. For example, an apple shaped waist or stomach may be an indicator for health risks like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Tips and suggestions
There is no magic formula for slimming or losing weight overnight. The only reliable way to become slim is to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Even if you already have a weight problem, the best way to lose it is to make positive lifestyle changes. A healthy diet and regular daily exercise are the key weapons for becoming slim in the end. There are some useful prescription slimming pills available on the market like the Reductil (Sibutramine) and the Xenical (Orlistat).