Obesity and poor circulation - what's the connection?

Carrying too much fat can have a negative effect on your circulation in these ways:

If your body is larger, the heart has to work harder to pump blood to the extremities, such as your lower limbs.
Excess visceral fat is associated with insulin resistance, which increases the risk of diabetes. This, in turn, can negatively impact your circulation.
Excess fat - especially visceral fat - increases the risk of high cholesterol, which can cause fatty deposits that narrow your blood vessels.
Excess visceral fat can cause inflammation in the venous system, making it harder for blood to flow freely.

These factors may combine to cause blood vessels to narrow and lose elasticity, which can lead to poor circulation medically diagnosed as Peripheral Arterial Disease (or PAD). This should be diagnosed by your doctor.

How your weight can be a risk to your circulation

References

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