Health Problems Associated with Adult Obesity

Obesity is associated with multiple health problems that can lead to early death, and is second only to smoking as the leading preventable cause of death in North America. An estimated 300,000 people in the U.S. die every year from obesity-related causes. Adults with obesity are more likely to have certain health problems than those who are not obese, including:

• Heart disease
• Type II Diabetes mellitus
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol and triglycerides
• Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
• Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Degenerative joint disease
• Urinary incontinence
• Infertility in females
• Depression
• Increased risk of some cancers
• Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (fatty liver disease)
• Ankle edema and leg ulcers
• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension