Overweight and obesity have been identified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an important cause of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and heart diseases. It was also estimated that the prevalence of overweight in Nigeria will increase in both men and women over the next 10 years (WHO, 2005). Many Nigerians are not aware that overweight or obesity is associated with increased health risks. Overweight and obesity are taken erroneously as evidence of affluence in the typical Nigerian community including children. Little wonder that there are rising trends of chronic diseases and sudden deaths in the country.

health risks of being overweight
The more overweight you are, the more likely you are to have health problems. Many overweight people have difficulty reaching their healthy body weight. If you are overweight, you are more likely to develop health problems, such as stroke, diabetes, certain types of cancer, gout (joint pain caused by body chemical called ‘uric acid’), gallbladder disease and a typical kidney disease. Being overweight can also cause problems such as sleep related problems (interrupted breathing during sleep) and osteoarthritis (wearing away of the joints). Weight loss, however, can help improve the harmful effects of being overweight.

Way of assessing risk
If you are an adult woman and your waist measures more than 80cm, or if you are a man and your waist measures more than 94cm, you are more likely to develop diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. You need to talk to your doctor about the health risks of your weight. A more cumbersome but reliable way of assessing your risk is to check the ratio of your weight (in kilogram) over the square of your height (Weight / [height (meter) x height (meter)]). Any figure obtained between 18.5 - 24.9 is considered as normal. A figure above 25 is considered overweight while 30 and above is considered as being obese.

Risks to your health
Overweight people are more likely to have high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, than people who are not overweight. Very high blood levels of fat such as cholesterol and triglycerides can also lead to heart disease and are often a linked to being overweight. Being overweight also contributes to angina (chest pain caused by decreased oxygen to the heart) and sudden death from heart disease or stroke without any signs or symptoms. Heart diseases and stroke are the leading causes of death and disability for both men and women in most developed countries of the world. The good news is that losing a small amount of weight can reduce your chances of developing a heart disease or a stroke. Reducing your weight by 10% can decrease your chance of developing heart disease by improving how your heart works, blood pressure, and blood fat levels (blood cholesterol and triglycerides).

Diabetes
Diabetes is a major cause of early death, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and blindness. Overweight people are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as people who are not overweight. You can reduce your risk of developing this type of diabetes by losing weight and by increasing your physical activity. If you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight and becoming more physically active can help control your blood sugar levels. If you use medicine to control your blood sugar, weight loss and physical activity may make it possible for your doctor to decrease the amount of medication you need.

Cancer
Several types of cancer are associated with being overweight. In women, these include cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast, and colon. Overweight men are at greater risk for developing cancer of the colon, rectum, and prostate. For some types of cancer, such as colon or breast, it is not clear whether the increased risk is due to the extra weight or to a high-fat and high-calorie diet.

Sleep abnormality
Sleep related problem ‘apnea’, is a serious condition that is closely associated with being overweight. Sleep apnea can cause a person to stop breathing for short periods during sleep and to snore heavily. Sleep apnea may cause daytime sleepiness and even heart failure. The risk for sleep apnea increases with higher body weights. Weight loss usually improves sleep apnea.

Degenerative joint disease (Osteoarthritis)
Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder that most often affects the joints in the knees, hips, and lower back. Extra weight increases the risk of osteoarthritis by placing extra pressure on these joints and wearing away the cartilage (body material that cushions the joints) that normally protects them. Weight loss can decrease stress on the knees, hips, and lower back and may improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Gout
Gout is more common in overweight people and the risk of developing the disorder increases with higher body weights. Gout is a joint disease caused by high levels of a normal body substance (uric acid) in the blood. Uric acid sometimes forms into solid stone or crystal masses that become deposited in the joints.