How can being overweight affect you?

Being overweight or obese can affect nearly every part of your body. It can increase your chances of having a heart attack, developing diabetes, having high blood pressure and increase the risk of certain types of cancer..

Being overweight can also cause:

But if you are overweight, it's not all bad news. There is something you can do to improve your health.

Losing (and keeping off) just 5-10% of your body weight can provide many health benefits.

Health benefits of losing weight

Studies have shown that, when overweight, losing (and keeping off) 5-10% of your body weight can significantly reduce your risk of: heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers. For example, it can:

• Lower high blood pressure
• Improve control of blood sugar levels in people with diabetes
• Reduce the risk of angina
• Improve blood cholesterol levels
• Ease lower back and joint pain

What's more, 5-10% weight loss is an achievable amount that many people can keep off for good.