Our digestive system consists of the organs and chemical reactions that occur from when food and liquid enter our mouths until our waste products are excreted in our feces. The organs involved in the digestive system include the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, rectum, pancreas, gall bladder and liver.
Some of the problematic symptoms that emanate from our digestive systems may include abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, diarrhea and bloating. One of the most common causes of abdominal pain especially in females, is irritable bowel syndrome. This is usually characterized by lower abdominal pains, constipation and/or diarrhea.
Poor weight control impacts the digestive system in many ways. One of the frequent negative impacts is a heightened risk of having gastroesophageal reflux disease (“GERD”). This produces heartburn and may lead to Barrett’s esophagus, which in turn, produces a higher risk of developing esophageal cancer.
Obesity causes an increase in risk of developing stomach, pancreas, colon and rectal cancers. Of these, pancreatic cancer is the most deadly with an average lifespan of 2 years after being diagnosed.
There are many reasons why losing weight and keeping that weight off are so important. The health of our digestive symptoms is greatly impacted by weight control. Place this on the very long list as to why the delayed gratification of controlling weight is so much better than the immediate gratification of the food and drink sources that derail our efforts.