Co-morbid Conditions

The presence of obesity increases the risk of a number of medical conditions, including cancer. A co-morbid condition is a health condition related to a primary disease such as obesity.

There are many health conditions related to morbid obesity, but some of the most common are:

• Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, amputation of the feet or legs, and nerve damage
• Heart disease, such as hardening of the arteries, heart attack, and angina
• High blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and vision loss
• High cholesterol, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure
• Obstructive sleep apnea has been associated with high blood pressure
• Acid reflux/GERD, which can lead to esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma)
• Cancer
• Depression
• Osteoarthritis and joint pain, which can lead to loss of mobility
• Stress urinary incontinence
• Female reproductive health disorder, which can lead to infertility and sexual dysfunction

These conditions occur more frequently in people with morbid obesity. Mortality rates from many of these conditions are also higher among people with morbid obesity.