Health Risks of Being Overweight & Obesity | How to lose weight fast Health Risks of Being Overweight | Page 13

How is kidney disease linked to overweight?
Obesity increases the risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, the most common causes
of chronic kidney disease. Recent studies suggest that even in the absence of these risks,
obesity itself may promote chronic kidney disease and quicken its progress.
How can weight loss help?
If you are in the early stages of chronic kidney disease, losing weight may slow the disease
and keep your kidneys healthier longer. You should also choose foods with less salt
(sodium), keep your blood pressure under control, and keep your blood glucose in the
target range.
Pregnancy Problems
Overweight and obesity raise the risk of health problems for both mother and baby that
may occur during pregnancy. Pregnant women who are overweight or obese may have
an increased risk for developing gestational diabetes (high blood sugar during
pregnancy) having preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy that can cause
severe problems for both mother and baby if left untreated) needing a C-section and, as
a result, taking longer to recover after giving birth Babies of overweight or obese mothers
are at an increased risk of being born too soon, being stillborn (dead in the womb after
20 weeks of pregnancy), and having neural tube defects (defects of the brain and spinal
cord).
How are pregnancy problems linked to overweight?
Pregnant women who are overweight are more likely to develop insulin resistance, high
blood sugar, and high blood pressure. Overweight also increases the risks associated with
surgery and anesthesia, and severe obesity increases surgery time and blood loss.
Gaining too much weight during pregnancy can have long-term effects for both mother
and child. These effects include that the mother will have overweight or obesity after the
child is born. Another risk is that the baby may gain too much weight later as a child or
as an adult.
If you are pregnant, check the sidebar for general guidelines about weight gain. Talk to
your health care provider about how much weight gain is right for you during pregnancy.