Obesity Increases Your Risk of Cardiovascular Issues
People who are obese or overweight are at elevated risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and other factors that, in turn, increase their chance of developing cardiovascular disease.
To determine your risk for complications due to obesity, pay attention to the following:
- Physical inactivity
- Smoking
- Family history of cardiovascular disease
- High blood pressure
- High LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol)
- Low HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol)
- High triglycerides
- High blood sugar
Body mass index (BMI) can help you ascertain whether you’re at a healthy weight by calculating your weight in relation to your height. A BMI of 25 is considered optimal. Generally, the higher your BMI, the higher your health risks, not only for obesity but for Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
Another indicator for obesity is waist circumference, which can be determined by wrapping a tape measure around your waist at the belly button. Men should target a circumference of less than 40 inches, while women should aim for less than 35 inches. Those with higher circumferences are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
Your weight will likely be a topic during regular preventive health appointments with your primary care physician. However, if you have immediate concerns, call 713-442-000 to schedule an appointment with a Kelsey-Seybold doctor or dietitian to learn more about your ideal weight and how to reach and maintain it.
