Being weight-conscious has health benefits, says studies (Photo Credit: Creative Commons)

The Holidays are over, relatives and friends have flown back to real life, having left you alone to stare at the mirror wondering: how many pounds have I gained? And seriously, asking yourself (drumroll right here): how do I get rid of this excess baggage?

Recently, the problem of obesity has risen up in the ranks, becoming a major health concern for the young and old. With fast food chains on virtually every corner, and food deliveries within an arm’s reach, it can be very easy to gain extra unwanted weight especially over the holiday season.

But be warned,  the dangers of obesity are  alarming. People living with obesity are more vulnerable to serious diseases, including liver diseases.  Obese people are more susceptible to various illnesses such as coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, and liver disease, to cite a few.  Recent research shows that people with both obesity and hepatitis C are at a greater risk of developing fatal liver cancer, thus stronger preventive measures for both obesity and liver disease should go hand in hand.    In the U.S., about 300,000 deaths every year are linked to obesity.

The link between obesity and liver cancer has become so apparent that experts push for studies that identify people and communities with high risk factors to both diseases.   The Mayo Clinic studies determined that about eleven percent of liver cancer cases were, in fact, related to obesity. While this number may seem small to some, the prevalence of obesity especially among children, poses a significant health threat.

Obesity is defined by a percentage of body fat that exceeds thirty percent for women, and twenty-five percent for men. As we know, the accumulation of too much fat in the liver creates  damage that often leads to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).   The successful treatment of this disease begins with a full commitment to a low fat, healthy lifestyle.

By Toni Bacala