What kind of risks do obese people face? How long is the general life-expectancy!
Question: There is someone specific I'm thinking of, whom I love very much, but she has never listened to anyone when it comes to matter of her diet, and now that she is in her mid-20s, she is very overweight. I worry about her so much, she's already had knee surgery, has diabetes...
Answers: There is someone specific I'm thinking of, whom I love very much, but she has never listened to anyone when it comes to matter of her diet, and now that she is in her mid-20s, she is very overweight. I worry about her so much, she's already had knee surgery, has diabetes...
I think "N" and "GO GREEN" have covered most of the risks.
I can tell you from a different point of view. I was obese from the age of 9 through most of my teens and became morbidly obese in my early twenties.
There were a lot of factors that led to my obesity including: family history of obesity, being made fun of, forced dieting by my mom while everybody else ate junk, being molested in my early teens, and food being my best friend.
It was a horrible existence for me. Back then people would "moo" at me and blatantly call me names. Because of my size I didn't have my first pair of jeans until 8th grade, the only clothes that would fit me were old lady flowery tops and polyester pants. To this day I get physically ill when I touch polyester. After I was molested I gained more weight, kind of a protection type thing. I figured a guy really had to like me for me to get past how fat I was. Because of that I was the "secret" girlfriend that was ignored in public, however was loved up in private.
I settled so many times for any guy that would take me because I figured that's all I deserved. Most of them drunks that would beat me up. I even married a man because I knew he was scared of me and wouldn't hurt me like the boyfriend I had before him did.
There are so many emotional components tied to obesity. Self worth, possible abuse, clinical depression ( I have that), fear, food being a best friend that would never get mad or leave, it tasted good, somehow it can be a comfort and many more.
I was bribed. promised new clothes, threatened that I would have to wear dresses like the fat ladies in the circus, threatened and scared with all the illnesses I could get and more all in efforts to get me to lose weight. I tried every diet around only to gain back more weight than where I had started.
There is no promising, talking into, threatening or anything else that will force someone to lose weight. It is like giving up the one friend that never gets mad at you. There is no harder addiction in the world to kick then food. You have to eat to survive, you don't have to smoke, do drugs or drink alcohol to live. That's what makes it even worse.
My decision to have weight loss surgery was sudden. My best friend was having it and I couldn't have my best friend lose weight without me! So on a Wednesday I went to an information meeting with her doctor, the next day I was in the hospital with my friend prepping for surgery and that Friday morning I was under the knife.
I don't regret having weight loss surgery at all. I do however regret that I didn't research it more carefully though. A new type of surgery was the latest and greatest at the time and the surgeon basically forced it on us. It is a surgery that is no longer performed because of the deaths and life long complications caused by it. It was similar to the new lapband, however it wasn't adjustable. We compulsively vomited any fibrous food like meat and vegetables, so violently at times that the vessels in our eyes would break.
I starved for 16 years, had 3 more surgeries to fix it and finally in 2004 I had to have my stomach entirely removed because it had been destroyed by the surgery. I can not absorb nutrients from food and must drink protein drinks and take special vitamins the rest of my life.
I am asked often if I regret it, and I have to say that it is a mixed bag. Had I not made the rash decision to have surgery like I did, I don't know that I would have.
The bottom line I guess in sharing my story is that there is nothing anyone can do until she decides that she wants to change something. The more she is lectured, the more she will eat, I guarantee it. Unfortunately there are more and more people in the same situation as she is in and I fear it will only get worse.
All you can do is love her for who she is. She must be a wonderful woman and I know how hard it must be for you to stand by and watch, however as a friend, that is all you really can do. She needs you to love her as she is. If and when she is ready to get therapy and/or pursue dieting, exercise or weight loss surgery you can be there for her and be her biggest fan.
Unfortunately, it is in her hands. I know you would do it for her if you could. I had many people in my life that would have done it for me. However this is something that she must decide and do for herself. I'm sorry that you are suffering so much and feel bad for her as I have been there and know her pain.
As far as life expectancy, it is all dependent on how well she controls her diabetes and keeps track of her blood pressure, cholesterol and other factors. I am sorry that you both are going through this. I'm sure she knows how much it hurts the ones she loves, I always knew, however I couldn't help myself.
I send my blessings to you both. I sincerely hope that some day she will make the decision that can extend and possibly save her life. Bless you both, and I hope you are able to find some peace for yourself. Worrying yourself sick will not help either of you.
Take care,
Michelle
Obesity is a risk factor for many diseases including (as you mentioned) diabetes, arthritis, sleep apnea, GERD, heart disease and more.
She has to want to lose the weight, scare tactics don't always work. Has she been checked by a doctor to see if there is a medical reason (like a hormonal condition) which may be the cause of her obesity? If no medical reason has been found maybe encouraging her to join you at the gym or cooking healthy meals with her may help. It is difficult to lose weight but with support from others it may help. Try to encourage her and stand by her.
type 2 diabetes
coronary heart disease and stroke
metabolic syndrome
certain types of cancer
sleep apnea
osteoarthritis
gallbladder disease
fatty liver disease
pregnancy complications
im sure there is more...like increased risk of heart attack and high blood pressure and cholesteral.
obesity is a very serious problem.
ive been watching my grandma battle with obesity it took her being put on oxygen and now she has heart disease...thats what snapped my grandma out of it...she went onto the nutrisystem diet....my grandma also has diabetes and was able to do this diet she has lost 52 pounds so far.