How does obesity affect people? What are the signs and symptoms of obesity? It's no secret that over half of the world is overweight. In a world of fast food, junk food, video games and sugary drinks, it is no surprise that people are gaining weight. But just because people are overweight, that does not make them necessarily obese.

You can find out if you are by finding out your BMI which stands for Body Mass Index. To calculate your Body Mass Index:

1. Multiply your height in inches by your height in inches: your height x your height
2. Divide your weight by your answer for number 1: your weight / answer to 1
3. Multiply by 703
4. Round to the nearest tenth ex. 26.1119 = 26.1

If your answer is over 30 then you are considered obese.
If it is between 25 and 30 then you are overweight.
Your Body Mass Index should be between 18.5 and 25 for a healthy weight.
If it is under 18.5 then you are considered underweight which can also lead to health risks.

The causes of obesity can be from overeating, not getting enough exercise, genetics, certain medical disorders and some say even sleep deprivation can be the cause. If our body doesn't get enough rest or if it gets too much rest it won't work properly. Not getting enough sleep may slow down our metabolism which is important for keeping a steady weight. How much sleep you need varies with each individual though some professionals believe that getting between 6 - 8 hours of sleep at night can make the average adult healthier. Pregnant women may need as much as 10 hours of sleep at night, and teens should get about 9 hours.

Some of the signs and symptoms of obesity are: overeating, eating the wrong kinds of food, not getting enough exercise, and high blood pressure. Some people are so obese that they can hardly move. They may have shortness of breath when they walk a short distance or do other forms of exercise. They may have trouble getting up out of a chair or off the couch.  There are people that can not leave their house or have to have a wheelchair because they are so obese.

Being obese can cause your feet and legs to swell, your back and knees to ache, and osteoarthritis in some joints. Other signs and symptoms of obesity may include heart problems and high cholesterol.

Obesity can affect people in many different ways. Being so overweight can cause people to feel lonely, depressed and frustrated. It can also cause hurt feelings, not to mention many different medical conditions. When some people are feeling depressed, lonely or frustrated, it may cause them to eat more and gain even more weight.

How does obesity affect people? Some of the affects can be Hypertension(high blood pressure), Diabetes, Coronary heart disease, Stroke, Gallbladder disease, Sleep apnea, respiratory problems, Some cancers (endometrial, breast and colon), and high levels of cholesterol.

Sleep apnea is when there are pauses in breathing during sleep. While the person who has sleep apnea may not be aware of it, it can lead to serious complications such as Hypoxemia(low blood oxygen) and congestive heart failure.

High blood pressure is also known as the silent killer because it rarely shows any symptoms. High blood pressure can lead to a stroke or a heart attack. Normal blood pressure is usually under 120/80, while high blood pressure is above 159/99. Between 120-139/80-89 is Prehypertension which is above normal but not up to the level of hypertension which is high blood pressure.

Obesity can lead to death if you don't do something about it.

The obvious answer is to lose weight. But losing weight may not be that easy. Getting proper exercise and eating right are the primary factors in losing weight. Changing to a healthier lifestyle can be a difficult task at first, but with enough commitment and persistence it can be achieved.

Doing things like replacing sugary drinks with water or juice, making wise snack choices such as carrots and celery sticks instead of cookies and chips, and getting plenty of exercise can help a great deal.

Never starve yourself to lose weight.  Starving yourself may only cause temporary weight loss and make you sick.  Instead it is better to eat 4 to 6 small, healthy meals each day to avoid hunger and keep your metabolism working at it's best.  The metabolism is the process your body uses to convert your food into energy and is very important to weight loss.

Start by doing a body detox to clean out your insides. This may cause you to feel lighter, and rid your body of dangerous parasites and plaque that can make it hard for you to lose weight.

After you clean your body of all the dangerous parasites and plaque clogging up your system, find a good weight loss plan that you know you can stick to. A good weight loss plan consists of healthy eating and proper exercise.  If you want to learn more about how to achieve weight loss, you can check out How to Achieve Weight Loss : Weight Loss Tips and Tricks.