Q25. Why does being overweight affect your throat?

A25. There are several reasons for this. One reason is that excess weight around the neck and chest puts a strain on the throat. This also affects breathing and can lead to a condition called sleep apnoea.

Another reason is that excess body fat within the abdomen –called visceral fat, puts too much pressure on the internal organs, especially the stomach. This affects the ability of a valve at the bottom of the oesophagus to prevent stomach contents from flowing back up this tube and into the mouth.

This leads to a condition called acid reflux.

There is also some evidence to suggest that there is a link between carrying excess weight and throat cancer.

These are discussed in more detail in our looking after your throat section.

FAQS Index : Sore throat FAQ

Sore throat FAQs

1. What does the throat consist of?
2. What does the throat do?
3. What is the larynx?
4. What are the tonsils?
5. How do the vocal cords work?
6. What enables us to speak?
7. Why do we get a sore throat?
8. Can you treat a sore throat with antibiotics?
9. Why does my child get lots of sore throats?
10. What is diphtheria?
11. What is croup?
12. What is quinsy?
13. What is acid reflux?
14. What is strep throat?
15. What is the difference between a viral throat infection and a bacterial throat infection?

16. Why do children have frequent episodes of tonsillitis?
17. What are adenoids?
18. Do you need to have your tonsils removed?
19. What are the different types of throat cancer?
20. What causes throat cancer?
21. How is throat cancer treated?
22. Can oral sex damage the throat?
23. What effect does your lifestyle have on your throat?
24. Why are singers prone to throat problems?
25. Why does being overweight affect your throat?
26. Can you treat a sore throat at home?
27. My child has a sore throat; do I need to see my GP?
28. What causes someone to lose their voice?
29. Can you prevent a sore throat?
30. Why is it important to look after your throat?