Being a little bit overweight may not cause too many noticeable problems. However, once you are carrying a few extra kilograms (or pounds), you may develop symptoms that affect your daily life.
Short-term problems
Day-to-day, obesity causes problems such as:
- breathlessness,
- increased sweating,
- snoring,
- difficulty sleeping,
- inability to cope with sudden physical activity,
- feeling very tired every day, and
- back and joint pains.
Long-term problems
Obesity can also cause changes that you may not notice, but that can seriously harm your health, such as:
In the longer term, obesity greatly increases your risk of a number of serious medical conditions. See the complications section for details of these.
Psychological problems
In addition to the day-to-day problems of obesity, many people may also experience psychological problems (problems to do with mental health). These may include:
- having low self-esteem,
- having a poor self-image (not liking how you look),
- having low confidence levels,
- feeling isolated in society, or
- having reduced mobility leading to a poor quality of life.
These can affect your relationships with family members and friends, and if they become severe, may lead to depression.
