Obesity leads to a wide series of health problems. In fact, obese people are at a greater risk of developing a range of illnesses including metabolic diseases such as diabetes and dyslipidaemia (high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides), cardiovascular problems, such as heart attack and strokes, respiratory disorders (such as nocturnal apnoea), problems affecting articulation (pain due to arthritis of the knees, hips and back), gynaecological problems (such as menstrual irregularities,  polycystic ovary syndrome, complications during pregnancy), infertility,  sexual dysfunctions (impotence), tendency to develop disorders affecting the digestive tract (for example gastroesophageal reflux disease, gall stones) and mood disorders (for example, depression).

Finally, it must be remembered that obesity may also increases the risk of developing certain types of cancer, such as endometrial cancer (a type of womb cancer), bowel cancer, breast cancer and cancer of the gall bladder.

With regards to health risks, the problem of obesity in children and adolescents should also be underlined. In fact these subjects are exposed from early childhood to respiratory difficulties, articular problems, reduced mobility, disorders affecting the digestive tract and problems of a psychological nature. Furthermore, an obese child is likely to become an obese adult:  therefore the risks of prematurely developing health risk factors of a cardiovascular nature, such as hypertension and conditions involving altered metabolism such as type 2 diabetes or hypercholesteremia are also likely to increase.

The higher the BMI, the higher the risk of developing diseases, as can be seen in this graph where the red column represents the group of patients with the highest body mass index. It is evident that in this group the number of patients affected by various pathologies is greater than in the other groups representing subjects with a lower BMI. In particular morbidly obese patients often have severe cardiocirculatory diseases (hypertension, cardiovascular diseases) and respiratory disorders such as dyspnoea, (.e. laboured breathing even after only light exertion), Pickwickian syndrome (sleepiness during normal daily activities), nocturnal apnoea, (Sleep Apnea Syndrome).

MORTALITY DATA 

If we consider the pathologies and risks to health associated with obesity, it appears evident that obesity can become a significant risk factor of mortality. According to estimates, every year 320,000 people die in Europe due to causes directly linked to obesity. Mortality which may be correlated to excess weight therefore represents a serious public health problem in Europe where 7.7% of all deaths can be associated with excess weight. The life expectancy of morbidly obese people is reduced (estimates talk about a 7 -10 year reduction in life expectancy) with the risk of death increasing the higher the body mass index and abdominal circumference.


QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OBESE PATIENTS

Numerous data show that obesity is associated with a lower quality of life. The diseases associated with obesity  mentioned above contribute to reducing the quality of life as they reduce the physical capacities of the patient (for example cardiologic, respiratory and osteoarticular disorders) and may involve chronic pharmacological treatment which in turn can be associated with side effects.   Other problems, such as depression, infertility or impotence may reduce the quality of life still further for patients,  also due to their interference in interpersonal relations. Finally, within the scope of social life, there is a wide range of repercussions, such as discrimination at work, difficulties in common day situations, such as buying clothing and travelling and a whole variety of daily activities such as getting washed and climbing the stairs.