What Are the Dangers and Risks?

Obesity can lead to many long-term health problems in life.

Hispanics are particularly prone to Diabetes and Heart Disease. Obese children are likely to have these problems early on in their lives and will carry them into an obese adulthood. If this trend continues, obesity may soon top smoking as the nation's most preventable cause of death. Health problems include:

- Diabetes: your body is unable to break down the sugars you eat
- Metabolic Syndrome: your body doesn't use its nutrients properly
- High Blood Pressure: your circulatory system is pumping too fast for its own good
- Asthma: the amount of air going into your lungs is limited because the passageway is small and tight
- Sleep Disorders: you are unable to get proper rest at night
- Liver Disease: your liver, in your stomach area, cannot break down the toxins in your body like it should
- Early Puberty: your body grows too fast for its own good
- Eating Disorders: your body doesn't get enough nutrients
- Skin Infections: your skin is unable to protect your body from the germs outside