Being obese isn’t just a physical characteristic. The larger your child or you are - the more health problems both of you could have in the future. Obesity increases your risk for several chronic - even deadly - diseases, like:
High blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure is the force in your arteries when your heart beats. It is considered high in adults when your systolic pressure (top number) is 140 mm Hg or higher, and when your diastolic pressure (bottom number) is 90 mm Hg or greater. Having high blood pressure can increase your chances of heart attack or stroke. Being obese directly influences your blood pressure.
Coronary heart disease. Coronary heart disease exists when plaque (a fatty material) builds up on your artery walls, which can either slow down or block blood and oxygen from getting to the heart. Coronary heart disease can lead to angina (chest pain) or even a heart attack. Being obese can increase the strain on your heart, and is directly related to your blood pressure and cholesterol levels – which can result in coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and stroke.
High cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance found in your bloodstream and your body’s cells. Everyone has cholesterol – our body needs it to help produce cell membranes, some hormones and other functions. Your body produces cholesterol, but you also get it from eating animal by-products (meat, milk, eggs, etc.). Your body carries cholesterol away from the arteries by using lipoprotein. Low density lipoprotein is known as the “bad” cholesterol; while high density lipoprotein (which your body produces) is known as “good” cholesterol. Too much LDL can clog your arteries and cause you to have a heart attack or stroke. People with LDL cholesterol levels of 240 mg/dL and above are considered to have high cholesterol, and are at high risk for heart attack and stroke. People with low levels of HDL – 40 mg/dL and lower, are also at risk for heart attack and stroke.