There can be a lot of gratification in eating deep-fried food and candy. It tastes delicious, and there are no immediate side effects, only joy. However, in the days, months, and years following on from consuming such food, you will find it’s less gratifying. Instead, it puts you in danger.
We are slow learners – not realizing nearly soon enough that there’s such thing as “too much of a good thing.” As a result, we are slowly killing ourselves all in the name of tantalizing our taste buds.
Think that bit of cake won’t do any harm? What if it could lead to slide number two, or even number five? After reading these grave risks of excess weight, you’ll be more conscious about eating that extra slice of cake.
1. Type 2 Diabetes
Have you been going to the toilet more often? Are you thirsty? Hungry? Tired? Irritable? Are you indulging in a lot of food that lacks nutritional value? Then you could be suffering from, or at risk of, type 2 diabetes. If you are carrying extra weight, particularly around your stomach, you are more at risk of this condition.
However, if you choose to eat better and exercise, you can control your blood sugar levels and even reduce or eradicate your need for medication.
2. Heart Disease
Did you know that over 610,000 people die from heart disease in the United States every year? It’s a very real risk and one that’s heightened if you’re carrying extra weight, have a poor diet, are inactive, drink a lot of alcohol, or have type 2 diabetes.
One in four people die of heart disease, but if you make a conscious effort to eat better food, drink less, and exercise more, then you can minimize your risk of becoming a statistic.
3. Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea, a breathing condition, can cause you to snore louder than usual, and you can even stop breathing while you sleep. It’s closely linked to being overweight and can also increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Sleep apnea is entirely treatable, but it’s preventable, too. If you can avoid getting it, wouldn’t you instead do that? Being conscious of your weight is an excellent first step, and weight loss can make it an issue of the past.
4. Gout
Gout is an uncomfortable condition caused by too much uric acid in your blood. With too much acid, crystals form in your joints which can cause significant discomfort in the short term and long term.
You can suffer year-round, or have crippling flare-ups resulting from poor diet choices and at random.
While many things cause gout, a significant player in the game is excess weight. The more overweight you are, the more at risk you can be of having it.
5. Cancer
There’s no denying that merely stepping outside these days supposedly puts you at risk of cancer. However, research now shows a strong connection between some cancers and poor lifestyle choices.
If you are overweight, you are more at risk of kidney, esophageal, pancreatic, ovarian, gallbladder and colon cancers. If you are post-menopause, you may also be at risk of breast cancer.
While it’s not something you would think about as you eat that last piece of cake, it may be something to consider going forward.
6. Fatty Liver Disease
While medical professionals aren’t entirely sure (yet) what causes fatty liver disease, what they do know is that you’re more likely to have it if you’re overweight. Fatty liver disease is when you get fat building up on your liver, forming scar tissue. Over time, it shuts down your liver.
The worst part about fatty liver disease is that by the time you know you have it, the damage is already done. You can, however, reduce the risk by swapping sugar for salad!
Conclusion
The occasional pizza, chocolate bar, and a bag of chips aren’t going to cause you to suffer from all manner of lifelong diseases. However, if you continue to munch on food that’s high in fat, sugar, and other nasties, then you are putting yourself at significant risk of gaining weight and suffering from weight-related conditions.
Do yourself a favor and swap the fried chicken for a salad. You’ll feel better, and your body will definitely thank you for it!