Why weight matters

Obesity is a global and complex health concern which has seen rates nearly triple worldwide since 1975.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are around 2 billion adults currently living with overweight, of which 650 million are considered to be in the obese category.

So why does this matter? Obesity is a risk factor for a number of serious chronic diseases and is recognised as one of the most important public health problems facing the world today.

In the section we will explain how living with overweight and obesity impacts on health, what factors contribute to weight gain and outline the benefits of losing weight.

To start this section, click on ‘Why I want to lose weight‘ below.