Health
Severe obesity can represent a considerable threat to your health. You have a greater risk of developing diabetes, joint problems, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer. Your cholesterol level is probably appreciably raised and there is a greater risk of gall bladder problems. You may experience problems with your bronchial tubes and are at greater risk of developing a disease of the coronary arteries. The more weight you gain, the greater the risk of all kinds of health problems. This also applies to life expectancy. People suffering from severe obesity run a real risk of dying prematurely. Obesity makes you less mobile, just when it would be so good for you to take more exercise. In the case of people already suffering from certain diseases, such as diabetes, the disease may be exacerbated. Severe obesity reduces fertility and thus the likelihood of becoming pregnant. If you do become pregnant, problems may occur in the context of childbirth.
Psychosocial consequences
People who are extremely overweight often have a negative self-image and their environment frequently
makes this worse. Overweight children my be teased at school and have few friends. It is hard to find attractive clothes and many public facilities are not geared to coping with overweight people. Seats in public transport vehicles are not constructed for them, telephone boxes and cars are too small. It is often a problem for many overweight people to take part in sporting activities. Furthermore, people who are severely obese are in any case likely to be excluded from certain activities which require a certain amount of exercise. Those suffering from obesity, particularly severe obesity, find that they can very
easily end up socially isolated.
General
Even normal day-to-day tasks may become harder because one gets tired too quickly or has breathing difficulties. Mobility is reduced, which may even interfere with one's ability to maintain personal hygiene.
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"Obese people experience many problems in their own immediate environment. This is because obesity is directly visible to other people, which means that it affects social interaction. Not only do people have firm opinions on the outward appearance of someone suffering from obesity, but they also make judgements about his or her character. For example, it is often seen as a sign of weakness and laziness that obese people have no control over how much they eat. Most of the patients I see in my practice have experienced this attitude from other people. You will also find this pattern repeated in studies on quality of life. According to one study (Rand And MacGregor, 1990, eds), prior to surgery the majority of obese patients considered themselves unattractive and felt as if people were talking about them behind their backs. They also felt that they were discriminated against when it came to trying to get a job, and found that doctors frequently treated them with little respect. It is noticeable that around 18 months after a stomach operation this (self-) image changes completely. I see this change in my patients too, and it gives me enormous satisfaction every time."(Lap-Band® System Surgeon's testimonial)
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