The Grim Effects of Obesity in Men

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Obesity affects millions of children and adults around the globe. 74% of men or 3 in 4 men are considered obese or overweight. According to the World Health Organization, the complications of obesity include diabetes and heart disease.  So how dangerous is obesity in men? Let’s find out:

Decreased Infertility

Obesity affects the hormones and the entire reproductive system of both men and women. But men are more vulnerable to infertility due to the significant drop in testosterone. Testosterone is a hormone that boosts sexual desire and enhances fertility in men. Studies show that obese men are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction compared to men with normal weight. This sexual disorder inhibits erection during sexual intercourse.

Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

More men die of cardiovascular disease than women. An obese person’s heart works extra hard to circulate blood all over the body. The more fat that accumulates within the arteries, the harder it is for the blood to circulate all over the body. Fatty plaques cause the arteries to harden and develop narrower space for blood to pass through. This condition is called atherosclerosis. Studies show that the hardening of the arterial walls is at least 10 times more common in obese men than in healthy people. Apart from hardening of the arteries, obesity also increases the likelihood of blood clots, leading to heart attacks and strokes.

Increased Risk of Colon Cancer

There is a connection between cancer development and obesity. However, scientists are still unable to pin down the root cause of cancer in obese men. What we do know is that obesity is linked to colon cancer, in both men and women. Common risk factors for colorectal cancer include a diet high in processed meats and red meats as well as insulin and insulin-related growth factor in the blood.

Scientists pin down the link between colon cancer and obesity to the intricate relationship between the digestive system and immune-related disorders.

Mental Deterioration

A 2010 study found that obesity affects a person’s cognitive functions and mental performance. One hypothesis cites the deteriorating white matter in the brain. The white matter surrounds the brain’s nerve fibers. These nerve fibers generate signals around the brain. Obese individuals exhibited damaged white matter compared to patients with normal weight. Once the integrity of the white matter of the brain is affected, brainpower is diminished.

Breathing Problems

Although men have a more powerful set of lungs than women, obesity could affect the former’s breathing. And once the respiratory system is compromised, the problem will spread to surrounding organs, including the heart and the brain.

A 2010 study noted that adipose tissues reduce the lungs’ ability for air. Obesity increases the risk for poor ventilation and exacerbates the existing respiratory diseases of a patient.

Breathing problems could lead to sleep apnea, which is common among obese individuals. This condition limits the oxygen intake of a person while asleep. However, sleep apnea could turn fatal when the person is not woken up. Sleep apnea is more common in men. This condition can occur at any age but the risk increases among older men.

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