Impact on health

Living with overweight and obesity has many serious risks for our health. It also reduces our life expectancy between three to five years depending on the severity.

Some of the risks include:

Type 2 diabetes

Heart disease and stroke

Cancer – at lease 13 different types

Liver disease

Chronic kidney disease

Musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis

Respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Dr Naseer Ahmad is a vascular surgeon and discusses the main health risks that are associated with diet and lifestyle choices:

Day-to-day problems

Along with the long-term health risks, there are many day-to-day issues that living with obesity and overweight can cause people. These include:

• Breathlessness
• Increased sweating
• Reduced mobility
• Joint and back pain
• Tiredness
• Low confidence and self-esteem
• Depression
• Snoring

This range of problems that living with overweight and obesity can cause may make you feel overwhelmed and worried about the future. The good news is that these health problems are largely preventable and losing weight can help you significantly reduce your risk of developing them.