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Health Problems Associated With Adult Obesity

Overview

How obesity affects your health depends on many things, including your age, your sex, where you carry your body fat, and how physically active you are.

Obesity raises your risk for many conditions, including:

In some people, fat builds up mostly around the stomach. (This is sometimes called apple-shaped.) Those people are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and coronary artery disease than people who are lean or people with fat around the hips (sometimes called pear-shaped).

If you have healthier habits or lose weight, you can lower your risk for these conditions.

Credits

Current as of: August 25, 2022

Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine
Rhonda O'Brien MS, RD, CDE - Certified Diabetes Educator