The complications of obesity extend far beyond the cosmetic.
Obesity causes problems in virtually every sphere of health:
Cardiovascular - The risk of early death due to heart attack or stroke is significantly higher in the obese individual.
In patients who carry their fat around the abdominal region the risk is higher still.
Hormonal - In women the fat tissue may act as a factory for the production of male hormones, leading to acne and facial hair.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome appears to be more common in the obese. Leading to reduced fertility and inability to conceive.
Nutritional - Diabetes appears to be an inevitable consequence of obesity - it is only a matter of when it will occur as the degree of obesity increases.
Conversely, the diabetes will generally disappear when the person regains a healthy weight.
Recent follow-up data suggests that four out of five diabetics will return to a non diabetic state following surgery.
Diabetes increases the risks of heart attack, stroke, infection, blindness, kidney failure, amputation and gangrene.
Musculoskeletal - The additional weight imposed upon the joints leads to early wearing out of the knee and hip joints, arthritis and reduced mobility.
Joint replacement may be required to reduce the pain and increase mobility.
Cancer - For reasons not fully explained the risk of certain forms of cancer are increased in the obese.
These cancers are breast, endometrium, kidney, colon, rectum and gall bladder cancer.