Obesity Risks that Most Commonly Affect Women and How to Overcome Them

Did you know that some obesity risks affect women more often than others? Being overweight isn’t just an issue that impacts the way you look or what dress size you wear. There are many obesity risks that need to be taken very seriously because they can actually place your health and your life in danger. The majority of us don’t actually understand the hazards linked with the epidemic of being extremely overweight.

What’s the Difference Between Being Overweight and Having Obesity?

The difference between having obesity and being overweight is usually defined based on body mass index (BMI). This measure isn’t appropriate for everyone.  It doesn’t work under a certain age or over a certain age.  Moreover, it isn’t accurate with atypical body types such as those of bodybuilders and athletes. However, for an average adult, BMI can help to estimate the amount of body fat you carry on your body.

• Women with a BMI within the range of 25 to 29.9 are typically considered to be overweight.
• Women whose BMI is greater than 30 are typically considered to have obesity.

To know your BMI, use the BMI calculator offered on the official website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The BMI may not be a perfect measure, but for an average woman’s risks of obesity, it can be a helpful guide provided you remember it’s not the complete story. Beyond BMI, another method frequently used to determine whether or not your body weight is a healthy one is with your waist circumference measurement.  This is a measurement of the distance all the way around your waist.

Doctors and researchers feel that women who have a waist circumference greater than 35 inches have an increased risk of the types of health issues associated with being overweight or having obesity.

What Are the Most Common Obesity Risks for Women?

This is because there are conflicting messages being continually sent our way regarding beauty and obesity risks. On one side, we are told that we can be beautiful no matter what shape or size we might be. This is absolutely true. A woman can be completely gorgeous whether she’s in her healthiest BMI range or whether she is suffering from obesity. However, at the same time, despite how beautiful she might look, if she is obese, she is at risk of other very serious health conditions.

The following obesity risks greatly increase when a woman’s weight is a minimum of 20 percent greater than what is deemed “normal” for her height. This added body fat makes her more likely to suffer from other conditions such as:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Certain cancers
• Diabetes
• Gallstones and gallbladder disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Respiratory conditions that lead to breathing problems like sleep apnea and asthma
• Gout

Exceptions to Every Rule

This is not to say that every person with obesity will also have these conditions. However, there is a much higher chance of developing those conditions when a person is quite overweight. This risk only worsens if there is a family history of those conditions. Moreover, the area in which the majority of the excess fat is stored can also play a role in the number of additional health risks a woman will face.

For example, if she is “apple shaped,” that is, she has most of her weight around her middle, she will be at a greater risk of many of the heart-related conditions than someone who is “pear shaped,” with her weight carried mostly at her hips and buttocks.

Women at a Greater Risk of Obesity

The risks associated with obesity among women can affect anyone.  That said, there are certain age groups, ethnic groups and genetic groups that are affected more than others.  Women within the following groups have higher risks of obesity and the health problems associated with carrying too much body fat:

• Among women who are black or African-American, about 4 out of every 5 are overweight or have obesity.
• Among women who are Hispanic or Latina, over 3 out of every 4 are overweight or have obesity.
• Women who are lesbian or bisexual have a higher risk of being overweight or having obesity than heterosexual women.

Family background, the place where you grew up, and where you currently live, as well as events you’ve experienced in your life all help to decide if you will be affected by increased obesity risks for women.

These risks often encourage people to speak with their doctors about the best diet pills for women, which will help them to establish a healthy weight management strategy and build the habits they need to maintain that obesity prevention lifestyle over the long term. Often, women prefer over the counter supplements containing fat burners and appetite suppressants that will make it easier for them to break bad habits and build the right ones.