Obesity Increases Risk of Blindness

Obesity is a key factor in vision loss from diseases such as macular degneration and cataracts.  According to a new study by Britain’s Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB), your risk of blindness increases if you are overweight.

People who are overweight often assume that because they have no problems with things such as their sight that everything must be fine.  Barbara McLaughlan, an RNIB eye health consultant states that “With the huge increase in obesity that we have seen in recent years, many people are now jeopardizing their sight in later life.”

According to the report, people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or above, they are at risk of developing one of three major causes of blindness:

  1. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
  2. Diabetic Retinopathy
  3. Cataracts

The study indicates that obese people are twice as likely to develop macular degeneration and cataracts and ten times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

Being overweight makes it even more important that you regularly visit eye care professionals to ensure the health of your eyes.  It is also important that you get regular exercise and reduce your BMI to a level that lowers your risk of eye disease later in life.

Obesity being linked to eye disease such as macular degeneration provides more evidence for leading a healthy lifestyle.