Physical Health Consequences:

Obesity leads to a range of physical health conditions in humans. Specifically, a number of

dangerous conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD),
cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, and several types of cancer, are greatly increased
by obesity (Bluher, 2019, as cited in Jiu & Liu, 2021). Furthermore, according to Cho et al.
(2018), type 2 diabetes, a chronic illness brought on by the body's inability to properly utilize
and generate insulin, is one of the main effects of obesity. Diabetes has a significant negative
impact on the vasculature, which can result in a number of cardiovascular disorders, including
microvascular, arteriosclerotic, and atherosclerosis. These conditions are known to be the
main causes of mortality for diabetics (as cited in Jiu & Liu, 2021). In addition, Burt and
McCartney (2010) reported that human reproduction is also affected by OW and OB in
addition to altering sexual function. The precise way that childhood obesity influences the
onset of puberty is yet unclear, however it may cause males' puberty to advance and girls'
puberty to delay (as cited in Chu et al., 2018).
Psychological Impacts:
According to Ginneken (2016), children and teenagers who are obese struggle with
psychological problems as well as social ones, such as diminished self-worth and perceived
competence. Although psychological adjustment may be predicted by self-esteem, health-
related quality of life (QOL) is a broad concept that includes social, emotional, physical, and
academic functioning. Davison et al. (2003) showed that numerous research investigations
have demonstrated the connection between obesity and melancholy as well as low self-
esteem. The girls with greater BMI showed poorer body image at all ages, and there was an
increasing age-related correlation between weight worry, body dissatisfaction, and weight
status (as cited in Kim et al., 2007) and according to Ricciardelli and McCabe (2001),
children's body dissatisfaction and body mass index (BMI), especially in females, are related
(as cited in Kim et al., 2007). On the other hand, obesity also influences an adult's mental
health. Due to Durso et al. (2012), adults' poorer self-esteem was substantially correlated with
higher internalized weight stigma (as cited in Wu & Berry, 2017) and adults' lower self-
esteem was substantially correlated with a higher frequency of experiencing weight stigma
(Friedman et al., 2008, as cited in Wu & Berry, 2017). Interpersonal sensitivity, social
isolation, and social phobia suspicion were all substantially positively correlated with
experiences of weight stigma (Ashmore et al., 2008; Hatzenbuehler et al., 2009, as cited in
Wu & Berry, 2017).
Socioeconomic Implications:
Numerous organizations have evaluated the economic cost of certain chronic illnesses, and
the estimates vary greatly. Anekwe et al. (2020) reported that due to the rise in chronic
illnesses associated with obesity, there is a substantial excess medical expense burden that is
borne by the entire population under our public health insurance system, as opposed to falling
only on the individual. Moreover, obesity can equally affect life's work. According to
Kleinman et al. (2014), employees who are obese (BMI ≥30) have greater absenteeism rates
than those who are not (BMI < 27 kg/m2 and a 70% rise in short-term disability days). These
absenteeism rates include sick days, total absences, short-term disability days, and workers'
compensation days (as cited in Anekwe et al., 2020). Therefore, the economic impact of
increased worker absenteeism is substantial, with losses projected to be between $3.38 and
$6.38 billion yearly and total expenses reaching $11.2 billion (Hammond and Levine, 2010;
Asay et al.,2016, (as cited in Anekwe et al., 2020). According to a 2014 report by the
McKinsey Global Institute, the global economic cost of obesity is projected to be over $2.0
trillion, or 2.8% of GDP worldwide—amounts that are comparable to the whole economic
burden of tobacco use or armed warfare (Dobbs et al., 2014, as cited in Anekwe et al., 2020).
For example, in underdeveloped nations, women are more likely than males to be overweight
or obese, but in industrialized nations, the opposite is true. (Ng et al., 2014, as cited in
Anekwe et al., 2020).
Jia, W. & Liu, F. (2021) Obesity: causes, consequences, treatments, and challenges. Journal
of Molecular Cell Biology. Available from https://doi.org/10.1093/jmcb/mjab056 [Accessed
April 14, 2024]

Chu, D. T., Minh, N. N. T., Dinh, T. C., Thai, L. N. V., Nguyen, K. H., Nhu, N. V. T., Tao,
Y., Son, L. H., Le, D. H., Nga, V. B., Jurgoński, A., Tran, Q., Van, T. P. & Pham, V. H.
(2018) An update on physical health and economic consequences of overweight and obesity.
ScienceDirect. Available from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2018.05.004 [Accessed April 14,
2024]
Kim, J. Y., Oh, D. J., Yoon, T. Y., Choi, J. M. & Choe, B. K.. (2007) The Impacts of Obesity
on Psychological Well-being: A Cross-sectional Study about Depressive Mood and Quality of
Life. J Prev Med Public Health. Available from https://www.jpmph.org/upload/pdf/jpmph-40-
2-191.pdf [Accessed April 14, 2024]

Ginneken, V. V. (2016) Impact of Obesity on Human Emotions and Psychology: Childhood

Obesity Leading to “The Bell Jar of Obesity”. Journal of Depression and Anxiety, 6(1): 1-2.

Anekwe, C. V., Jarrell, A. R., Townsend , M. J., Gaudier, G. I., Hiserodt, J. M., Stanford, F.
C. (2020) Socioeconomics of Obesity. Nation Center for Biotechnology Information.
Available from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32627133/ [Accessed April 14, 2024]

Wu, Y. K. & Berry, D. C. (2017) Impact of weight stigma on physiological and psychological
health outcomes for overweight and obese adults: A systematic review. WILEY Online
Library. Available from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jan.13511 [Accessed
April 14, 2024]