The Framingham Heart Study identified obesity as an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. Weight was found to be more important than blood pressure or smoking and was ranked as the third most important risk factor for heart disease, after age and raised lipid levels. Similar although less dramatic trends are also seen for women and older men. The link between obesity and certain cancers is well proven. Obese women are particularly prone to cancer of the uterus, cervix, ovary, gall bladder and breast.
Overweight men have an increased risk of colorectal and prostate cancers.
Severely obese patients may also have an increased risk of kidney, pancreatic and stomach cancer. Other illnesses A wide variety of other conditions are exacerbated by overweight and obesity. Obesity is a major cause of infertility. It contributes to osteoarthritis and joint problems and causes breathlessness and respiratory difficulties which limit the individual's capacity for manual work. Obesity is linked to higher than average rates of depression and greater mental illness.