The NHS lists the following as the immediate symptoms of obesity:
- breathlessness;
- sweating a lot;
- snoring;
- difficulty sleeping;
- inability to cope with sudden physical activity;
- feeling very tired every day;
- back and joint pains.
Being obese increases the risk of:
- high blood pressure;
- heart disease;
- stroke;
- high cholesterol levels (fatty deposits which block the arteries);
- breast cancer in women;
- gallbladder disease;
- gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (when acid from the stomach flows back up into the gullet);
- arthritis of the back, hips, knees and ankles;
- diabetes and difficulty controlling existing diabetes;
- polycystic ovarian syndrome;
- reduced life expectancy.
The NHS site also points out that people who are obese may also experience psychological problems such as:
- having low self-esteem (self-worth) - or poor self image;
- having low confidence levels;
- feeling isolated in society;
- having reduced mobility leading to a poor quality of life.
