These 27 medical problems are caused by a poor diet

These 27 medical problems are caused by a poor diet

Obesity is now the number one cause of preventable death in the U.S., according to research presented at the 2017 Society of General Internal Medicine Annual Meeting.

For decades, smoking held the top spot, but researchers determined that obesity caused 47 percent more life years lost than tobacco.

“Smoking is well known to cause multiple health issues and has been banned in public areas like airports, hospitals and restaurants for years, so the number of smokers is decreasing. However, many people don’t understand the correlation that an unhealthy diet and overeating has on overall health,” says Dr. Claudia Tiwet, an internal medicine physician at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Ill.

“The medical complications that result from poor eating habits (lots of junk food, fast food, processed foods and high-fat foods) and being overweight or obese, or even just carrying too much fat in your abdominal region, are not as widely known or understood,” she says.

Dr. Tiwet names 27 medical issues that a poor diet/obesity is known to cause or is highly suspected to contribute to:

  1. Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  2. Alzheimer’s Disease/Dementia
  3. Coronary Heart Disease – learn your risk
  4. Stroke – learn your risk
  5. Gall Bladder Disease
  6. Osteoarthritis
  7. Sleep Apnea
  8. Respiratory Problems
  9. Endometrial Cancer
  10. Breast Cancer – learn your risk
  11. Prostate Cancer – learn your risk
  12. Colon Cancer – learn your risk
  13. Dyslipidemia (an abnormal amount of lipids, or fat, in the blood)
  14. Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (liver inflammation caused by a buildup of fat in the liver)
  15. Insulin Resistance
  16. Asthma
  17. Hyperuricemia (an abnormally high level of uric acid in the blood)
  18. Reproductive Hormone Abnormalities
  19. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
  20. Impaired Fertility
  21. Adult Onset Diabetes (Type 2) – learn your risk
  22. Depression
  23. Anxiety
  24. Low energy levels/fatigue
  25. Tooth decay
  26. Acne
  27. Digestive health issues

Want to learn how to eat healthier? Try one of these three well-regarded diets based on what people need to eat more of:

  • The Mediterranean Diet has been linked to decreasing your risk for breast cancer, diabetes and dementia, among others.
  • The DASH diet, short for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, was developed by the U.S. Department of Health as an easy-to-follow approach to healthy eating designed to combat the nation’s rise in high blood pressure, known as hypertension.
  • The MIND diet is directly aimed at Alzheimer’s prevention.

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Comments

8 Comments

  1. Couldn’t agree more with this article. Three years ago my Mom and I both went on the GOMBSS diet. GOMBSS stands for Greens, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries, Seeds & Nuts, and Sweet Potatoes. We also eliminated chicken, meat, and pork from our diet and completely stopped eating anything that had processed sugar. No cakes, candies, cookies, ice cream, etc.

    As a result, my Mom who was 88 years old at the time went from almost 185 pounds down to 130 pounds (she’s 5’2”). I went from 200 pounds down to 155. My mom regained her walking, has rarely had a gout attack in over a year, has very good blood pressure and cholesterol, and went from 8 medications daily to only needing one, which she takes just 3 times per week. At 91 my Mom is probably in better health now than she was all through her 70’s and 80’s.

  2. I think it’s worth mentioning that high sugar and refined carbohydrate intake is a major contributing factor to obesity and its related problems.

  3. This article sums up most reasons for poor food choices effect on health and to add to the points it is important to eat mindfully and balance our meals choices with macro & micro nutrient rich foods. Also, it is important to get enough sleep time during night time (6-8 hrs) in order to avoid overeating and improve metabolism . Breakfast is the most important meal for the body to function properly.

  4. I am 60 yrs old- what I finally learned after all these years is that we should not be eating to get full, we should be eating to get the nutrients from food in order to sustain our lives- we have had such a misunderstanding all of our lives about what food is for- we think that overeating is what satisfies us(been there), but it is not, because we are still hungry even after we eat a big meal- but a lot of it is empty calories that fill our stomachs, but is not helping us nutritionally

  5. تمريض منزلي November 23, 2021 at 3:38 am · Reply

    Great article source to read. Thank you for sharing this.

  6. This is so true!!!! Thanks for helping me with a science project!

  7. Chekwemboi barbra May 27, 2023 at 10:49 am · Reply

    I love everything about nutrition I love to work with you

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About the Author

Kate Eller
Kate Eller

Kate Eller was a regional director of public affairs and marketing operations for Advocate Health Care. She enjoys road trips, dogs, minimalism, yoga, hiking, and “urban hiking.”