Weigh the Risks Obesity affects all the body's systems. Excess fat causes an increased need for insulin, which in turn may lead to developing diabetes. Increased abdominal fat presses on the diaphragm, making it more difficult to breathe. This can become life threatening. A high amount of body fat on your upper body is much more dangerous than fat located on your arms, hips, buttocks and legs.
Obesity causes increased stress on joints, especially knees and ankles.
Extra weight also puts more stress on muscle structures, thus causing low back and other pain. Discomfort often greatly limits pleasurable physical activity. Obesity may alter or stop a woman's menstrual cycles. For many men and women who are obese, skin breakdown is often a problem due to trapped secretions and friction between skin folds. Obesity is also directly linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, and fatal heart attacks.