Obesity is a growing cause of concern worldwide, and its far-reaching effects can have a devastating impact on our health. Weight loss surgeries are the best way to combat obesity and its associated health risks. These involve various techniques to reduce the size of your stomach, while you can also incorporate lifestyle changes like a healthy diet and exercise into your daily routine.
Read more: Do You Know the Types of Weight Loss Surgery?
Your immunity is essential in keeping your body healthy and free from diseases. Unfortunately, obesity can harm your immunity and lead to various medical conditions. Read on to understand how obesity affects your immunity and what steps you can take to protect yourself.
When Does Your Immunity System Activate?
If you are sick or exposed to a threat, your immune system will activate to protect you. The cells of your immune system detect the presence of pathogens or foreign bodies that can cause illness and harm. In response, your body produces white blood cells that fight off these threats by destroying them with antibodies or producing proteins called cytokines.
Because obesity weakens our natural defenses, our bodies are less able to protect us from infection. Here’s how it works: when we are overweight, our body’s production of white blood cells is reduced, and we are more susceptible to infection and disease. This means that our bodies cannot protect us as effective against viruses, bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms. At the same time, fat cells can release substances called pro-inflammatory cytokines that promote inflammation in the body.
Health Conditions Due to Low Immunity
Obesity can devastate your immunity, leaving you vulnerable to various severe health conditions. In particular, those with excess body fat are far more likely to suffer from chronic inflammation and an increased risk for diseases related to the immune system. Some of these common health issues include:
1) Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder caused by elevated blood sugar levels. People with obesity are at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes due to their weakened immune system, which puts them at greater risk for insulin resistance or a lack of insulin production.
2) Heart Disease: Obesity can also increase your chances of developing cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke. This is due to the higher risk of elevated cholesterol levels and high blood pressure caused by weakened immunity.
3) Infections: Individuals who are overweight or obese are more susceptible to viral, fungal, and bacterial infections due to their suppressed immune systems. This can be especially dangerous for those with pre-existing medical conditions or immunocompromised.
4) Cancer: Obesity is linked to various types of cancers, including breast cancer, colon cancer, and other gastrointestinal cancers. This is due to the inflammatory responses associated with obesity that damage healthy cells and increase the risk for tumor growth.
5) Autoimmune Diseases: Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells instead of foreign invaders like bacteria or viruses. People with obesity have an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus due to their compromised immune systems.
Call Dr. Jalil for the best bariatric surgery in Mexico. We are here to help you prevent your immunity from the devastating effects of obesity. Our team is expertly trained and experienced in bariatric surgery procedures such as gastric sleeve and bypass.
