What you are at risk of if you are obese

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for all of us to read and help us realise why we are follwing this eating plan.

Health Risks Associated With Obesity

Obesity is not just a cosmetic problem. It's a health hazard. Someone who is 40% overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely as is an average-weight person. This is because obesity has been linked to several serious medical conditions, including:​

• Heart disease and stroke.
• High blood pressure.
• Diabetes.
• Cancer.
• Gallbladder disease and gallstones.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Gout.
• Breathing problems, such as sleep apnea (when a person stops breathing for a short time during sleep) and asthma.

 

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Doctors generally agree that the more obese a person is the more likely he or she is to have health problems. People who are 20% or more overweight can gain significant health benefits from losing weight. Many obesity experts believe that people who are less than 20% above their healthy weight should still try to lose weight if they have any of the following risk factors.​

• Family history of certain chronic diseases. People with close relatives who have had heart disease or diabetes are more likely to develop these problems if they are obese.
• Pre-existing medical conditions. High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, or high blood sugar levels are all warning signs of some obesity-associated diseases.
• "Apple" shape. People whose weight is concentrated around their stomachs may be at greater risk of developing heart disease, diabetes or cancer than people of the same weight who are "pear-shaped" (they carry their weight in their hips and buttocks).

Fortunately, even a modest weight loss of 10 to 20 pounds can bring significant health improvements, such as lowering one's blood pressure and cholesterol levels.​

 

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How Is Obesity Linked to Heart Disease and Stroke?
Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death and disability for people in the U.S. Overweight people are twice as 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 cholesterol can also lead to heart disease and often are 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.
The good news is that losing a small amount of weight can reduce your chances of developing heart disease or a stroke. Reducing your weight by 10% can decrease your chance of developing heart disease.​

 

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How Is Obesity Linked to Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes reduces your body's ability to control blood sugar. It is a major cause of early death, heart disease, stroke, and blindness. Overweight people are more than twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to normal weight people. You can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by losing weight and exercising more. If you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight and becoming more physically active can help control your blood sugar levels. Increasing your physical activity may also allow you to reduce the amount of diabetes medication you need.​

 

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How Is Obesity and Cancer Linked?
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 higher risk for developing colorectal cancer and prostate cancer. 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, high-calorie diet.​

 

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How Is Obesity Related to Gallbladder Disease?
Gallbladder disease and gallstones are more common if you are overweight. Your risk of disease increases as your weight increases. It is not clear how being overweight may cause gallbladder disease.
Ironically, weight loss itself, particularly rapid weight loss or loss of a large amount of weight, can actually increase your chances of developing gallstones. Modest, slow weight loss of about 1 pound a week is less likely to cause gallstones.​

 

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How Does Obesity Cause Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a common joint condition that most often affects the knee, hip, and lower back joints. Carrying extra pounds places extra pressure on these joints and wear away the cartilage (tissue 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.​

 

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How Is Obesity Linked to Gout?
Gout is a disease that affects the joints that is caused by high levels of a substance called uric acid in the blood. The large amount of uric acid can form into solid or crystal-like masses that deposit in the joints. Gout is more common in overweight people and the risk of developing the disorder increases with higher body weights.
Over the short term, certain dietary changes may lead to an attack of gout in people who have high levels of uric acid or who have had gout before. If you have a history of gout, check with your doctor before trying to lose weight.​

 

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How Is Obesity Linked to Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious breathing condition that is associated with being overweight. Sleep apnea can cause a person to snore heavily and to stop breathing for short periods during sleep. Sleep apnea may cause daytime sleepiness and even heart failure. The risk for sleep apnea increases as body weight increases. Weight loss usually improves sleep apnea.​

 

[chicken on a mission]

I'm not so much bothered about all that even though I should be, I am more bothered about not being able to live my life they way I want to because of my size.

Mental wellbeing is my concern.

 

[Debz]

I'm at risk from so much of that its scary - hence the bloody minded ability to control my weight. I don't want to end up like my Mum, dying at the age of 68 from cancer, with complications of obesity, Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis and asthma. And I don't want to have to go through what my Dad did in his 50s, heart bypass surgery to unblock five blockages in four arteries.

Oh the joys of genetics.

 

[Russiandoll]

I'm currently witnessing a friend's slide into ill health caused by obesity. In 2002 I weighed 3lb heavier than her (I was over 20st then) and since then, she has gained more weight and I'm now 14st 2lb since starting CD. She is probably well in excess of 21st by now.

Her type 2 diabetes is totally out of control, she is on heart tablets, blood pressure tablets, cholesterol tablets and anti-inflammatories to ease her aching joints. She can't walk any distance at all now and uses a mobility scooter, she has a Stannah stairlift and her bath has been replaced by a special walk in shower because she can't lift her leg high enough to get into a bath.

Her legs below the knee have turned a purplish black due to bad circulation and are often ulcerated. All this and she is only in her 50s.

To see this is heart-breaking and scary too. I don't want my own family to witness the same thing happening to me as is happening to my friend ... the process had already begun before I started CD. I was a type 2 diabetic (still am of course but it's under control without drugs), my blood pressure was raised and so was my cholesterol. Thank goodness I applied the brakes when I did!

Watching my friend was like looking forward into my own future and if I didn't want the sort of existence she has to endure now, I had to take some serious action to stop it happening. I just wish she'd do the same before it's too late

Debbie x

 

[jfc]

Debbie

What a sad story about your friends ill health. Is she curious about your weight loss at all? Would she be suitable for this diet? It would be wonderful if she could be encouraged to lose some weight to help her ailments.

Its really sad because to get so big she probably already has a psychological problem with food and now all these physical conditions are resulting from it.

Great that you have taken stock of your own life and started taking back control again Debbie...you have done incredibly well. Its not all about cosmetics and looking good is it...health is also an incredibly important factor.

Love

Jennyxxx

 

[Russiandoll]

Hi Jenny
My friend hasn't commented on my weight loss because I now live down South, she's in Doncaster where I lived for 5 years and she hasn't seen me since before I started CD.

I did mention I was doing it about a month after I started and said it was a great way to address the problem - especially if conventional methods weren't cutting the mustard. She just said "Tried that - didn't work because I hated the milkshakes. The woman suggested I mix them with coke but that was horrible too."

Now, I find it hard to believe that ANY CDC would suggest mixing a milkshake with coke and I have a feeling she was referring to Herbalife and not CD but she was so curt, I decided no to push it. She hasn't asked about my weight loss since and I don't want to rub her nose in it so whenever we talk on the phone, we talk about everything else (including her deteriorating health) but she never asks how I'm doing. She just wants a gastric bypass but has been told her health is now too bad for her to be considered! Her daughter had WLS weighing only 17st based on her mother's history - how mad is that? Now that WLS is out of the question, I feel she's just given up. It's as if that was her last and only hope.

I don't think she's being nasty not asking about my progress but I remember when I was gaining and gaining, the last thing I wanted to hear was someone else's weight loss successes! It just made me feel more of a failure.

Thing is, we plan to go up and visit old friends in Yorkshire before Christmas and I should be at goal by then (10st). She is going to have one helluva shock when she sees me because we haven't talked about my weight loss. Not sure whether to broach it beforehand or not. Hmmmm. Dilemma.

Debbie x

 

[Gray]

Hi all. I was nearly 18 stone and was told at work that my blood pressure was too high for me to drive a forklift truck and it was recommended that I see my doctor.

He agreed and told me to either try to lose some weight or to go on tablets. I did lose about half a stone by cutting down on food and eating more fruit, but it was taking ages and I kept putting it back on.

At the beginning of the year the doctor put me on blood pressure tablets for a month, but I heard that they do have some side effects and someone mentioned the lipotrim diet.

I thought I would give it a try as I am probably better at total abstenance than cutting down, so I stopped the tablets and went on sole source.

Since then I have managed to lose about 4 stone and when I went back to the doctors last week he said that my blood pressure was normal. I have decided to stay on the diet though for another month in order to lose another stone. This will give me a bit of leeway when I start eating again.

I know that the hard bit for me will be keeping the weight off when I start to eat again, but with the benefits to my blood pressure so obvious I am hoping that I will be able to do it.

It is hard though not to keep saying to people how good these type of diets are, but I realise that they are not for everyone and you have to have your head in the right place before you even think of doing it.

Hope you all keep on the diet. For me it does get sooo much easier when you get over the first week, but it is sooo much harder to restart it when you keep snacking.

BTW this forum is one of the things that has kept me going on this diet because I don't know anyone elso on it, and it's great to read about other peoples experiances

All the best

Gray

 

[Mini]

Morning Gray,

Congratulations on your four stone weight loss

Losing the weight is such a healthier option to lower blood pressure than taking tablets in the long run.

I was out shopping last night and honestly I was so pleased with myself and the way I can shop now...managed to walk past all the chocolate isles without humming my chocolate tune...

Refeeding is crucial part of a vlcd diet, I have the information and can dig it out and post it for you to read.

Big Dave from Lipotrim Support forum is a friend of mine and he has a link to his website in the members list here with his name.

We have agreed to share our support, help and information to all no matter what diet one is doing as we all share the same up's and down's on a weight loss journey and we feel forums like this are essential and our experience has been that it is an opportunity to meet some wonderful people and make friends for life from all over the place.

For we must remember some people are prisoners in their own homes because of their weight and we want to be able through the INTERNET to reach out to those who may feel vulnerable and isolated.

We already know that so many read what others write about their experience but are to shy to join in, but that is okay for it does take all kinds but for those who are courageous enough to share they are reaching out and lending a helping hand across the INTERNET and in that sharing they are empathizing and are touching the hearts of so many without ever knowing it. For it can be a lonely road some times.

You have done so well and you must be very proud of your achievements for it does take hard work, no two ways about it.

Besides your blood pressure improving which is really major, have you noticed any other significant changes in yourself and people towards you as four stone is mega weight to lose.?

Love Mini xxx

 

[Gray]

Hi Min, thanks for the lovely reply. People at work were very skeptical when I started this diet, saying that it'll never work and I would never do it, but now quite a few are asking about it as the weight loss becomes more apparent.

The fact that I still look healthy and have energy is a surprise to many of them, and I get the coments like "you will never keep it off though" and "you have lost enough now". These are from the same people who said it would not work in the first place so it doesn't bother me whatever they say.

I have always played squash once a week so I kidded myself that I was quite fit despite being over weight. When I play now though the difference is amazing. I can carry on playing after 40 minutes when the bloke I am playing is totally knackered and has to come off.

A good tip for staying on this diet is to get your kitcken ripped out. I am having a new kitchen and today I have just ripped out the sink, and took my cooker to the tip. It will be about 4 weeks before I will be ready for the plumber to connect the new cooker and sink, so it is a good time to just live on the shakes as they are easy to make and clean up after. By then I should be at my goal of 12 stone. Woo Woo.