Overweight and Obesity in Women

Obesity basically abdominal obesity  is central to the metabolic syndrome and is strongly interrelated to Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women. Obese women are basically susceptible to diabetes, and diabetes, in turn, puts women at dramatically higher risk of cardiovascular disease). Obesity substantially increases the risk of several major cancers in women,especially postmenopausal breast cancer and endometrial cancer. Overweight and obesity are interrelated  with elevated mortality from all causes in both men and women, and the risk of death rises with increasing weight. Curbing the twin epidemics of obesity and diabetes calls for not only changes in diet and lifestyle at individual levels, but also changes in physical and social environment, and cultural norms. Obesity negatively affects  the health of women in several ways.

Obesity increases the relative risk of diabetes and coronary artery disease in women. Women who are obese have a higher risk of knee osteoarthritis&low back pain and. Obesity during pregnancy can lead to higher chances  of cesarean (c section) delivery as well as higher rates of high-risk obstetrical conditions such as  diabetes and hypertension.

Maternal obesity refers to obesity of a woman during pregnancy.It can result in negative outcomes for both women and fetuses Maternal obesity can impose risk of stillbirth and various abnormalities in the fetus.Children have a risk of future obesity and heart disease

There seems to be an association between obesity and depression in women, though cultural factors may influence this association. Obese women are at higher risk for multiple cancers, including endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, and perhaps ovarian cancer.Obesity is an independent risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women and is an important modifiable risk factor for prevention of CAD.

Apart from these obesity in females may be due  to disease condition like:-

• Sheehan’s Syndrome
• Hypothyroidism
• Metabolic syndrome
• Dyslipidema

These conditions can be treated if we can identify& control the disease condition.