Why does it matter if someone is overweight or obese?

Carrying excess weight can put extra strain on the body, especially on the joints and the heart.

However, excess body fat is not just extra padding- it also produces hormones and chemicals that can make you susceptible to a range of serious illnesses.

Research shows that being overweight or obese increases the likelihood of you suffering from certain conditions:

• Cancer
• Coronary heart disease
• Diabetes
• Osteoarthritis
• Stroke
• Liver disease

Obesity reduces life expectancy by on average nine years and causes 9000 premature deaths each year in England.

Managing your weight

The positive news is that even moderate amounts of weight loss can significantly improve your health. If you are overweight, losing 5-10% of your body weight can significantly reduce your risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol.

How to lose weight