Obesity can accelerate the wear and tear on bones and joints. Weight-bearing points, like the hips, knees, ankles and feet, are particularly prone to degenerative arthritis.
Those who are obese, especially people with excessive abdominal fat, are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease (any condition that keeps the heart from functioning normally).
Obesity can cause infertility in women. Excessive fatty tissue causes hormone levels to change. Alteration in levels of estrogen and progesterone can lead to irregular menstrual cycles and halt the release of eggs from the ovaries.
Excess weight is one of a number of factors that contributes to cancer and definitely increases a person’s risk of developing certain forms of the disease, including breast cancer in postmenopausal women and cancers of the endometrium, colon, kidney and esophagus.
