Once upon a time, being fat was considered as a symbol of health and well being. It was considered a symbol of the wealthy leading luxurious lives.

Today, that notion has undergone a change. People have started to realize the problems that are associated with obesity. More than 55 out of every 100 people residing in North America are considered overweight. More than 20 percent of these over weight individuals are suffering from obesity. Obesity is a nutritional disorder in which too much fat gets accumulated in the individual’s body. It is a burden on the economy and our health care system because of the risk factors that it has.

Obesity is one of the major causes of heart disease. In people who are obese, the triglyceride levels in the blood tend to be higher than normal levels. At the same time, HDL levels are lower than normal. This situation can lead to heart disease. There is also a relationship between obesity and atherosclerosis. In people who obese, the incidence of atherosclerosis is much higher.


In people who are obese, there is excessive fat in the abdominal region. This is an independent risk factor for heart disease. Presence of fat in the abdomen leads to insulin resistance, which is a cause of type 2 diabetes and various heart diseases.


Obesity can also be a cause of metabolic syndrome. In metabolic syndrome, the communication system between body cells and insulin is hampered. This leads to production of higher levels of insulin in the body. The presence of higher levels of insulin in the blood can elevate the fibrinogen levels. Presence of higher levels of fibrinogen in the blood can cause the blood to clot very easily. Once the blood clots, the blood vessels may get either partially or totally blocked. This exerts additional burden on the heart and can lead to heart failure or stroke due to over exertion.


Obese people have to lead a sedentary lifestyle because of their bulky size. Inactivity itself is a risk factor for heart disease. In other words, obesity itself is a risk factor for heart disease. Obesity needs to be treated on time to avoid its consequences. The first step in this direction would be to realize that the individual is obese. The individual should also pay regular visits to the doctor. Visiting a nutritionist for nutritional advice is also recommended. Surgery may be needed in extreme cases of obesity. Healthy eating and plenty of exercise play an important role in preventing obesity. It is much wise to prevent obesity in the first place that to go for cure later. The saying “Prevention is better than cure”, applies very well to obesity.