Obesity
Obesity is when there’s excess fat in the body; it is when a person is over twenty per cent past his or her ideal weight. It causes a reduction in metabolic rate and leads to a build-up up of cholesterol, fats, and sugar in the blood vessels. These excess substances may overtime damage the arteries and cause clots to form; hence, increasing the risk of developing a stroke. Research has shown that the healthy body index is 20kg/m. Once a person’s BMI exceeds this level, each additional unit is equal to a five per cent increased risk of developing ischemic stroke. [5]