Am I Risking My Health by Being Overweight?

Am I risking my health by being overweight?

Being overweight or obese can be dangerous to your health. Overweight means having extra body weight (including muscle, bone, fat, and water). Obese means having extra body fat. If your weight falls in the severe overweight shaded area of the weight-for-height chart, you are probably obese.

If you are overweight or obese, you are more likely to develop:

diabetes

high blood pressure

heart disease

certain forms of cancer.

Other diseases and health problems related to being overweight are:

gallbladder disease and gallstones

osteoarthritis (wearing away of the tissue that protects the joints, possibly as a result of placing too much weight on them)

sleep apnea (a condition that causes you to stop breathing for short periods during sleep)

gout (another health problem causing joint pain)

In general, the more overweight you are, the more likely you are to have health problems. Read WIN’s fact sheet Do You Know the Health Risks of Being Overweight? for more information. (See the end of this booklet for information on how to contact WIN.)

Losing weight can help decrease some of the risks caused by being overweight. Losing 5 to 10 percent of your body weight can help improve your health. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, losing 10 to 20 pounds can help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

If you like the size and shape of your body now, you may not want to lose weight. Studies show that many African Americans know the health benefits of good nutrition and regular physical activity.

Yet, friends and family may feel that you look great and don't need to change how you eat or exercise. Their love for you is real, but only you can decide to improve your health. After you start to slim down, your friend or spouse may want to join you on the journey to better health.