The health benefits of losing weight
If you are overweight or obese, losing weight can reduce your risk of many serious health problems.
Most people who need to lose weight can get health benefits from losing even a small amount – about 5% – of their weight if they keep it off.
A list of Health problems linked to being overweight
If you are obese, you have a higher risk of:
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- stroke
- type 2 diabetes
- some types of cancer
- osteoarthritis
- back pain
You can find out if you are overweight by calculating your body mass index (BMI). This shows whether you have healthy weight for your height. The size of your waist is also important. If it’s too large, your risk of health problems is higher.
How can I lose weight?
The good way to lose weight is to make small, realistic and consistent changes to your diet and how physically active you are.
The amount of physical activity you should do depends on your age. For example, adults between the ages of 19 and 64 should do 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity.