Step 1: The benefits of a healthy weight

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Return to Index Step 1: The Benefits of a Healthy Weight Step 2: What is Your Ideal Weight? Step 3: Medical Considerations Step 4: How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way Step 5: Modify Your Diet Step 6: Break Your Unhealthy Food Habits Step 7: Get Moving Step 8: It is the Little Things Step 9: You CAN SO Do It Step 10: Choosing a Weight Loss Program Step 11: Medication and Surgery Key Points MedTest Glossary

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People come in different shapes and sizes. While differences are normal, more than 60% of American adults weigh more than they should. In addition, more than 30% of American children are overweight. A chronic condition known as obesity -- where a person has excessive body fat -- has reached epidemic proportions in both men and women of all ages and races.

Experts agree that being too heavy is bad for your health. Having too much fat can lead to serious health problems. More than 300,000 lives could be saved each year if everyone in America maintained a healthy weight! Next to smoking, obesity is the most common preventable cause of death in the United States.

Fat thickness, which varies greatly from one person to another, depends on the size and number of your fat cells.

What are the potential consequences of being overweight?

Being overweight puts you at higher risk for many significant health problems, such as:

Type 2 diabetes
Heart disease
High cholesterol
Sleep apnea
Varicose veins
Breast, endometrial, prostate, and colon cancers
Arthritis
Gallbladder disease
Rashes and other skin abnormalities (such as warts)
High blood pressure

Clearly, losing weight can have many potential health benefits. If you are overweight and have decided to shed some extra pounds, congratulations! You have already taken an important step toward improving your health and feeling better. Even losing 5-10% of your weight can begin to lower your risk of serious chronic diseases.

The purpose of this guide is to help you succeed with this goal. To continue to the next step, click "next" below.

Review Date: 4/17/2007
Reviewed By: Patrika Tsai, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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