Step-by-Step Weight Loss Plan | Natural Diet Plan | Lose Weight Without Dieting | What Should I Weigh? | Grapefruit for Weight Loss

Seniors: Health Risks of Being Overweight

Senior Health Article Copyrighted by Diet Bites

While some health warriors indicate that a little extra padding on a senior individual might be good, too much padding can effect our health in the following ways:

High Blood Pressure
Type 2 Diabetes
Heart Disease & Stroke
High Blood Cholesterol
Some Types of Cancer
Gallbladder Disease
Osteoarthritis
Obesity and Overweight Condition

Sleeping Disorders, including life-threatening sleep apnea where breathing stops momentarily.

Take note that these are just a few of the health issues that can attack the body when we move into Overweight Territory. Even minimal weight loss of 5-10% of current body weight can reduce the above health risks greatly. Example: Ben weighs 200 pounds; if he will lose just ten pounds he will have significantly reduced his negative health risks.

Here are a few more conditions that can attack the overweight individual:

Simple Carbohydrates: When too many are part of the daily diet, is places the body at an increased right for Diabetes Millitus as well as obesity.

Complex Carbohydrates: Too many complex carbs in the daily diet can lead to obesity.

Saturated & Trans Fats: When these sources of fats become saturated into the daily diet, cardiovascular disease risks increase.

Omega 3 Fats: While these fats are generally healthy for the daily diet too many can create bleeding and hemorrhages.

Omega 6 Fats: An excess can trigger cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer.

Protein: An overage in the daily diet can trigger a medical condition known as 'Rabbit Starvation' or more commonly known as Protein Poisoning. This condition is caused by an excess consumption of all lean proteins (meats). Its symptoms generally include: diarrhea, lethargy, fatigue, headache, a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure.

In addition, too many proteins in the daily diet can create an imbalance in the precious electrolytes which keep the fluids within the body in balance. Protein encourages water loss through the kidneys and an overage of protein rich foods can be very taxing on the kidneys.

Excess sodium (table salt) in the diet may trigger serious hypertension issues in some individuals who are sensitive to sodium. It may also cause hypernatemia, an electrolyte disturbance which in turn impacts blood pressure readings.

Too much iron in the daily diet can lead to cirrhosis as well as heart disease. If your diet is already rich in iron sources, you might need to toss that iron skillet. Males over the age of 19 require only 8 mg per day while women over the age of 51 require the same 8 mg daily. Too much Vitamin A can also cause cirrhosis as well as hair loss. Vitamin A Toxicity can be serious and may be fatal.

An excess of iodine in the daily diet can trigger Iodine Toxicity and lead to goiter and hypothyroidism.

An overage of Vitamin 3 in the diet can lead to Dyspepsia and heart arrhythmias.

Too much Vitamin C can cause diarrhea and dehydration.

These are just a handful of the health ills that can seize the overweight individual. The good news is that by loosing weight and eating a balanced daily diet that isn't too rich in carbohydrates, sodium, fats and calories - as well as other vitamins and minerals, we can easily achieve a higher level of health. That's good news, indeed.

Weight Gain Causes | Site Map | Diet Bites | Site Disclaimer