Final answer:
Central obesity increases the risk of several severe health conditions including heart disease, high blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes, by placing additional stress on the body's organs and metabolic systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The excess fat stored in the abdomen, known as central obesity, significantly increases the risk of various health issues, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure (BP), and diabetes. Individuals with an apple-shaped body are more susceptible to these conditions due to the stress that the additional fat cells and mass place on the body. An increase in the number of fat cells leads to greater inflammation and risk of blood clots, while excess fat mass causes diseases like osteoarthritis and obstructive sleep apnea. Central obesity, characterized by an accumulation of fat around the abdomen, profoundly alters the body's response to insulin, often resulting in insulin resistance, which is a precursor to Type 2 diabetes.
Moreover, metabolic syndrome, which includes high blood pressure, elevated levels of glucose and triglycerides, and low levels of HDL cholesterol, is commonly diagnosed in individuals with abdominal obesity. Addressing obesity and, in particular, central obesity, through lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise is crucial to mitigating these health risks. Reducing calorie intake especially from carbohydrates and increasing activity levels can significantly control body fat accumulation, thus decreasing the incidence of obesity-related diseases.