December 15, 2025
Education
The link between health problems and obesity
Understand your body and how to make informed choices that improve your health and wellbeing.
Many things can conspire to make you gain weight, including your genetics, diet, physical activity, stress levels, sleep patterns and underlying medical conditions or medications. There are also powerful environmental factors like sedentary jobs, busy lives and the constant availability of junk food, which can undermine good intentions.
As you can see, obesity is a complex condition and, as research shows, it can increase the risk of conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and joint problems.
Understanding the connection between excess weight and certain health conditions isn’t about blame or shame - it’s about knowledge and empowerment.
The encouraging news is that even modest weight loss can bring measurable benefits, like improved energy levels, better sleep, and reduced strain on the body. With the right information and support, small and consistent steps can make a meaningful difference to your health and wellbeing.
What do we mean by obesity?
Obesity refers to an excess of body fat, which may impair health and increase the risk of physical and psychological difficulties.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, two-thirds of adults (66%) are now overweight or obese. That makes weight one of the most important public health issues in the country today.
How does weight influence health?
1. Cardiovascular disease
People living with extra weight or obesity are at significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart attack, stroke, and other vascular complications.
Excess weight increases demand on your heart and circulatory system, which can lead to high cholesterol and systemic inflammation. Over time, that raises the risk of life-impacting cardiovascular events.
2. Type 2 diabetes and metabolic complications
There is a strong and well-documented link between obesity and the risk of developing metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes.
That’s because fat deposits around your internal organs (visceral fat) can trigger insulin resistance, meaning your body cannot use insulin effectively. Your body then produces more insulin to overcome the glucose building up in your blood. As time goes on, it gets harder for insulin production to keep up and your blood glucose begins to rise, triggering type 2 diabetes.
3. Cancer, liver and kidney problems
Obesity increases the risk of 13 types of cancer, including cancer of the breast (post-menopause), bowel, kidney, liver, endometrium, ovaries, stomach, thyroid, oesophagus, gallbladder, pancreas and prostate.
It also plays a key role in the development of kidney disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
4. Joint pain
A heavier body places additional stress on the musculoskeletal system - the network of bones, joints, muscles and connective tissues that support movement and stability. It increases the mechanical load on weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips, and lower back.
That increases the risk of musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis and chronic back pain, which can significantly affect your quality of life.
5. Psychological implications
Obesity doesn’t just involve physical health risks - it’s also linked to your mental health and wellbeing.
Sometimes, mental health conditions like depression or anxiety can lead to weight gain, especially if you tend to comfort-eat or lack the energy to exercise or make healthy meals.
And sometimes, obesity itself can worsen mental health, especially if it affects your self-esteem.
Seeking medical treatment for a medical condition
Obesity is a serious medical condition. Managing weight is a key part of managing health.
Many health conditions are managed by a combination of lifestyle change and medical treatment.
Obesity is no different.
At Botaniqal, we offer supportive, non-judgemental, evidence-based care to help you reach a healthy weight. That includes support to help you build healthier lifestyle habits and assessment to see if you’re eligible for medical weight-loss treatments.
We’d love to help you.
Disclaimer
All information is general and not intended as a substitute for professional advice.
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Overweight and obesity, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity, [Accessed 5 November 2025]
- Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, Wael Almahmeed, Harold Bays, Ada Cuevas, Emanuele Di Angelantonio, Carel W le Roux, Naveed Sattar, Marie Chan Sun, Gary Wittert, Fausto J Pinto, John P H Wilding, Obesity and cardiovascular disease: mechanistic insights and management strategies. A joint position paper by the World Heart Federation and World Obesity Federation, European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, Volume 29, Issue 17, November 2022, Pages 2218-2237, https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwac187, [Accessed 5 November 2025]
- National Health and Medical Research Council. (2022, November 7). Insulin resistance, insulin action: Case study. https://www.nhmrc.gov.au/about-us/resources/impact-case-studies/insulin-resistance-insulin-action-case-study, [Accessed 5 November 2025]
- Cleveland Clinic. (2024, November 21). Insulin resistance: What it is, causes, symptoms & treatment. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22206-insulin-resistance, [Accessed 5 November 2025]
- Cancer Council NSW. (2024). Overweight, obesity and cancer. https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/1in3cancers/lifestyle-choices-and-cancer/overweight-obesity-and-cancer/, [Accessed 5 November 2025]
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2024) Chronic kidney disease: Australian facts, AIHW, Australian Government, [Accessed 5 November 2025]
- Mayo Clinic Staff. (2025, October 15). Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease - Symptoms & causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nonalcoholic-fatty-liver-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354567, [Accessed 5 November 2025]
- Painaustralia. (2020, February 20). The role of pain in the National Obesity Strategy. https://www.painaustralia.org.au/media/blog/2020/feb20/national-obesity-strategy, [Accessed 5 November 2025]
- Segal Y, Gunturu S. Psychological Issues Associated With Obesity. [Updated 2024 May 2]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK603747/, [Accessed 5 November 2025]
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Most private health insurers in Australia cover some or all of the costs of alternative medicine prescriptions. However, there are exceptions. It's important to check with your insurer specifically to see if they offer coverage before making a claim.
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As our clinic continues to evolve and grow, we anticipate that Medicare coverage may become available in the near future. We're actively working towards this goal to make our services more accessible to all patients. We recommend checking back regularly for updates on Medicare coverage, as we're committed to providing you with the most current information about payment options and potential rebates.
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