Yuletide: Overeating Raises Risk of Heart Attack, Experts Warn Nigerians

Medical experts have warned Nigerians against excessive eating during and after the yuletide, noting that overeating can trigger discomfort and increase the risk of serious health complications, including heart attack.

The experts said that while festive celebrations often encourage indulgence, consuming large quantities of food can worsen existing medical conditions and expose individuals to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, cancer and cardiovascular problems.

A Consultant Endocrinologist and Physician at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Prof. Olufemi Fasanmade, said overeating usually begins with mild symptoms that many people overlook. He explained that these early signs may seem temporary but can lead to long-term health consequences if the habit persists.

According to him, common symptoms of overeating include indigestion, belching, difficulty sleeping, purging in extreme cases, protruding stomach, discomfort, fatigue, sluggishness, drowsiness, heartburn and bloating. He added that physical discomfort such as abdominal pain and restlessness is often a clear sign that an individual has exceeded healthy limits.

Fasanmade said persistent overeating gradually leads to obesity, which in turn increases the risk of hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and certain cancers. He noted that excessive food intake also affects the liver, leading to fatty liver disease, and places strain on other organs in the body.

He explained that overeating causes the accumulation of fat in the liver and contributes to metabolic disorders that eventually result in diabetes, hypertension and heart attack. He added that long-term excessive eating increases the risk of cancer and causes widespread damage to body organs.

The physician warned that people living with chronic medical conditions face greater danger when they ignore dietary advice during festive periods. He said the abundance of food during celebrations often leads such individuals to eat excessively, with potentially serious health implications.

Fasanmade advised Nigerians to adopt simple habits to enjoy the festivities without harming their health, including drinking water before meals to help control portion sizes.

Also speaking, a former President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof. Wasiu Afolabi, said habitual overeating disrupts the body’s energy balance. He explained that when energy intake consistently exceeds energy expenditure, excess energy accumulates in the body.

According to him, prolonged positive energy balance leads first to overweight and eventually to obesity, especially when excess calorie intake is not matched with physical activity. He added that overeating also causes immediate discomfort and can worsen underlying medical conditions.

Afolabi, a Professor of Community Nutrition at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, said people with existing health challenges are particularly vulnerable during festive periods. He warned that excessive food intake can aggravate such conditions and lead to serious complications.

He advised moderation in food consumption, caution with alcohol and sugary drinks, and regular physical activity as key measures to stay healthy during the festive season.

Medical experts also note that repeated overeating can interfere with the body’s hunger regulation system, causing individuals to eat for pleasure rather than in response to hunger. Research findings have shown that while the body can temporarily cope with occasional high-calorie intake, repeated excessive eating overwhelms its ability to regulate blood sugar, hormones and heart function.

Researchers have warned that continuous overindulgence in food can lead to metabolic syndrome, a combination of high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, as the body gradually loses its capacity to adapt to excessive calorie intake.