I am not suggesting that everyone who carries excess weight has a problem that requires medical intervention. What I firmly believe through my own experience is that if an individual is eligible for treatment and desires it then it should be offered. Sadly the reality falls far short of this.
Doctors will often talk about the co-morbidities of obesity, the illnesses which accompany this disease and often are the thing that cause the overweight individual to seek help.
Its not widely known that obesity contributes to 30,000 premature deaths a year in the UK and costs industry lost time/days through sickness.
The diseases that accompany obesity will be covered elsewhere but here are the things that I and others have experienced.
Physically
- Aches and Pains
- Breathlessness
- Sweating
- Discomfort
- Skin Rashes
- Boils
- Smell
- Incontinence
- Stomach upset
- What professionals call co-morbidities (diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnoea, infertility, arthritis, asthma, depression,, increased risk of cancer, stroke, heart disease)
Psychologically
- Lack of self esteem
- Loss of control
- Self disgust
- Low mood
Feelings of being
- Alone
- Lonely
- Sad
- Helpless
- Desperate
And socially, effects on
- Social status
- Employment
- Relationships
- Eating
- Going out
- Pleasure
- Holidays
A combination of the above feelings and experiences coupled with life shortening disease and a chronic health condition wears people down.
Obesity is not a lifestyle choice or the product of greed, poor self control or lack of will power. It's a complex disease whose causes, effects and treatments are not yet fully understood.
