Associated Disorders

Obese individuals are more likely to develop type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), and osteoarthritis 8,9.  Other afflictions obese individuals are prone to develop include infertility, birth defects, carpal tunnel syndrome, gallbladder disease, impaired immune system, liver disease, pancreatitis, sleep apnea, and end stage renal disease 9.  Also, cancers including colorectal, renal, breast, esophageal, gastric cardia, and endometrial are more likely to occur in the obese population 12 .

Cardiovascular Health

Obesity is associated with negative effects on cardiovascular health.  For example, research implies that obesity may exhibit a strong effect on lipoprotein metabolism (cholesterol metabolism) 43.  Increased weight tends to elevate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; “bad" cholesterol) and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C; “good" cholesterol) 40.  Such an occurrence increases the likelihood for developing heart disease 38.  This is due to LDL-C accumulation through damaged endothelial layers (the cell layer that lines arteries) and inadequate HDL-C which can transport LDL-C away from the endothelial surface 38.  Hypertension, which increases shear stress on vessels, is associated with obesity 3.  Increased shear stress augments vascular wall injury providing greater area for LDL-C to accumulate and possibly form plaques in arteries 38 . Adiposity level is a predominant factor underlying increased coronary risk among men. Excess body weight plays a dominant role in predicted coronary heart disease risk 53.

Blood Pressure
Some population studies associate obesity with 78% and 68% of essential hypertension in men and women respectively 35.  The link between obesity and renal failure is made due to observations of its relation with increased body weight 13.  Increased body weight tends to increase blood pressure, while a decrease in body weight tends to decrease blood pressure 3.  Hypertension can cause injury to the glomeruli and blood vessels of the kidneys, thus it is a major cause of renal dysfunction 13.  Conversely, kidney malfunction can result from hypertension 13.  Evidence points to renal dysfunction as a contributor to chronic blood pressure increases in obese patients 13.

Depression
The incidence of depression is increasing and is linked with the increased prevalence of obesity 81. In an epidemiologic study among Canadian households, individuals that screened positive for mood disorder were more likely to be obese than the general population 48.  The study results supplement clinical evidence that documents the association between mood disorders and stress-sensitive somatic disorders, such as obesity.  Among females, anxiety disorders are associated with a higher weight status and depression is associated with an increase in BMI 4. Early onset of depression is associated with higher BMI compared to depression that develops at older ages 4.