Which illnesses cause obesity

Health care practitioners routinely collect family health history to help identify people at high risk of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and some forms of cancer. Family health history reflects the effects of shared genetics and environment among close relatives. Families cannot change their genes, but they can encourage healthy eating habits and physical activity. Those changes can improve the health of family members—and improve the health history of the next generation.

Learn more about obesity and genomics. Some illnesses may lead to obesity or weight gain. Drugs such as steroids and some antidepressants may also cause weight gain. Research continues on the role of other factors in energy balance and weight gain such as chemical exposures and the role of the microbiome. People who have obesity, compared to those with a healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions, including the following: 5,6,7.

Obesity and its associated health problems have a significant economic impact on the US health care system, 11 including direct and indirect costs. Indirect costs relate to sickness and death and include lost productivity. Productivity measures include employees being absent from work for obesity-related health reasons, decreased productivity while at work, and premature death and disability.

In addition, obesity has implications for armed forces recruitment. Available online pdf icon [PDF Defining the genetic architecture of the predisposition to obesity: a challenging but not insurmountable task external icon. Am J Clin Nutr ; Genetics of obesity: what have we learned?

Epub Aug Department of Health and Human Services. Current estimates of the economic cost of obesity in the United States.

Obesity Research. What is the economic case for treating obesity? People who deal with overweight and obesity may also be the subject of weight bias and stigma from others, including health care providers. This can lead to feelings of rejection, shame, or guilt—further worsening mental health problems. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public.

What are some health risks of overweight and obesity? Type 2 diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose , also called blood sugar, is too high.

High blood pressure High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a condition in which blood flows through your blood vessels with a force greater than normal. Overweight and obesity may raise your risk for certain health problems such as high blood pressure. Heart disease Heart disease is a term used to describe several problems that may affect your heart.

Stroke Stroke is a condition in which the blood supply to your brain is suddenly cut off, caused by a blockage or the bursting of a blood vessel in your brain or neck.

Sleep apnea Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you do not breathe regularly while sleeping. Metabolic syndrome Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that put you at risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a common, long-lasting health problem that causes pain, swelling, and reduced motion in your joints. Gallbladder diseases Overweight and obesity may raise your risk of getting gallbladder diseases, such as gallstones and cholecystitis.

Some cancers Cancer is a collection of related diseases. Pregnancy problems Overweight and obesity raise the risk of health problems that may occur during pregnancy.

Pregnant women who are overweight or obese may have a greater chance of developing gestational diabetes having preeclampsia—high blood pressure during pregnancy, which can cause severe health problems for mother and baby if left untreated needing a cesarean section , or C-section and, as a result, taking longer to recover after giving birth What emotional and social problems are linked to overweight and obesity?

The genes you inherit from your parents may affect the amount of body fat you store, and where that fat is distributed. Genetics may also play a role in how efficiently your body converts food into energy, how your body regulates your appetite and how your body burns calories during exercise. Obesity tends to run in families. That's not just because of the genes they share. Family members also tend to share similar eating and activity habits. In some people, obesity can be traced to a medical cause, such as Prader-Willi syndrome, Cushing syndrome and other conditions.

Medical problems, such as arthritis, also can lead to decreased activity, which may result in weight gain. Some medications can lead to weight gain if you don't compensate through diet or activity. These medications include some antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, diabetes medications, antipsychotic medications, steroids and beta blockers. Social and economic factors are linked to obesity.

Avoiding obesity is difficult if you don't have safe areas to walk or exercise. Similarly, you may not have been taught healthy ways of cooking, or you may not have access to healthier foods. In addition, the people you spend time with may influence your weight — you're more likely to develop obesity if you have friends or relatives with obesity.

Obesity can occur at any age, even in young children. But as you age, hormonal changes and a less active lifestyle increase your risk of obesity. In addition, the amount of muscle in your body tends to decrease with age. Generally, lower muscle mass leads to a decrease in metabolism. These changes also reduce calorie needs and can make it harder to keep off excess weight.

If you don't consciously control what you eat and become more physically active as you age, you'll likely gain weight. Even if you have one or more of these risk factors, it doesn't mean that you're destined to develop obesity.

You can counteract most risk factors through diet, physical activity and exercise, and behavior changes. People with obesity are more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems, including:. Obesity can diminish the overall quality of life. You may not be able to do physical activities that you used to enjoy. You may avoid public places. People with obesity may even encounter discrimination.