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Health risks of obesity

Obesity means weighing more than what is healthy for a given height. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease. It can lead to other health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers.

People with obesity have a higher chance of developing these health problems:

  • High blood glucose (sugar) or diabetes.
  • High blood pressure (hypertension).
  • High blood cholesterol and triglycerides (dyslipidemia, or high blood fats).
  • Heart attacks due to coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke.
  • Bone and joint problems. More weight puts pressure on the bones and joints. This can lead to osteoarthritis, a disease that causes joint pain and stiffness.
  • Sleep apnea or breathing pauses during sleep. This can cause daytime fatigue or sleepiness, poor attention, and problems at work.
  • Gallstones and liver problems.
  • Some cancers.

Three things can be used to determine if a person's weight gives them a higher chance of developing obesity-related diseases:

  • Body mass index (BMI)
  • Waist size
  • Other risk factors the person has (a risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting a disease)

Body Mass Index

Experts often rely on BMI to determine if a person is overweight. The BMI estimates your level of body fat based on your height and weight.

Starting at 25.0, the higher your BMI, the greater is your risk of developing obesity-related health problems. These ranges of BMI are used to describe levels of risk:

  • Overweight (not obese), if BMI is 25.0 to 29.9
  • Class 1 (low-risk) obesity, if BMI is 30.0 to 34.9
  • Class 2 (moderate-risk) obesity, if BMI is 35.0 to 39.9
  • Class 3 (high-risk) obesity, if BMI is equal to or greater than 40.0

There are many websites with calculators that give your BMI when you enter your weight and height.

For individuals, BMI is a screening tool, but it does not diagnose body fatness or health. Your health care provider can evaluate your health status and risks. If you have questions about your BMI, talk with your provider.

Other methods to measure body fatness include skinfold thickness measurements (with calipers), underwater weighing, bioelectrical impedance, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and isotope dilution. However, these methods are not always readily available.

Test Your Weight Loss Knowledge

  • This is a good way for adults to decide whether they need to lose weight.

    Correct Answer
    The correct answer is to calculate their BMI. BMI estimates how much you should weigh based on your height. But not everyone should use BMI to decide whether to lose weight. Bodybuilders, the elderly, and parents concerned about their child's weight should talk with their doctor first.

  • Waist measurement is another way to see if you should lose weight.

    Correct Answer
    The correct answer is true. People with extra weight around their stomach area have a higher risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Women with a waist size over 35 inches (90 cm) and men over 40 inches (100 cm) should talk with their doctor about losing weight.

  • Being at an unhealthy weight can lead to serious health problems, including:

    Correct Answer
    The correct answer is all of the above. Losing weight can be hard, but the benefits are worth it. You do not need to lose it all. Set goals that you are able to achieve. For a person who weighs 200 pounds (90 kg), losing 10 - 20 pounds (4.5 - 9 kg) brings down their risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems.

  • To lose weight safely, get plenty of exercise and eat the right amount of healthy food.

    Correct Answer
    The correct answer is true. Work with your health care provider to set weight loss goals that you will be able to achieve. Learn healthy ways of eating, and gradually make them part of your daily routine. Add 2.5 hours of exercise to your weekly schedule. You’re more likely to keep weight off if you lose extra pounds slowly and steadily.

  • Keeping a food journal is a good way to become aware of:

    Correct Answer
    The correct answer is your eating habits. Write down what and how much you ate, what time you ate it, what else you were doing, and how you were feeling. Review your journal at the end of the week. You can see what tripped you up and decide which habits you want to change. Remember, small steps lead to more long-term changes.

  • Which of the following is NOT part of a healthy eating plan?

    Correct Answer
    The correct answer is foods high in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars. Learn to read food labels so you can spot -- and avoid -- these ingredients. Stick with fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and lean proteins. Limit processed foods.

  • Which of the following can help you control your food portions?

    Correct Answer
    The correct answers are A and C. When you eat from the bag, you may be tempted to overeat. Put one serving in a small bag or bowl or buy single-serving snack foods. Eat from a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. Keep serving dishes on the kitchen counter rather than on the dinner table so you’ll have to get up for seconds.

  • To lose weight, you need to eat fewer calories than:

    Correct Answer
    The correct answer is all of the above. You should eat fewer calories than what you burn during daily activities, sleep, and exercise. If you haven’t been exercising, adding activity to your day can help you lose weight if you also cut back the calories you eat. Taking a brisk 10-minute walk twice a week is a good start.

  • How much exercise should you get?

    Correct Answer
    The correct answer is 2.5 hours a week. Start slow and build up how much you exercise per week. Include strength training in your routine. That counts toward your weekly total. As you become more fit, challenge yourself by boosting the time or intensity of your exercise.

  • This is a simple way to get more physical activity:

    Correct Answer
    The correct answer is all of the above. Small lifestyle changes can make a big difference over time. Find creative ways to build more activity into your regular routine. Replace some of your screen time with activities that get your body moving -- using an exercise ball, dancing, or doing yoga.

Waist Size

Women with a waist size greater than 35 inches (89 centimeters) and men with a waist size greater than 40 inches (102 centimeters) have an increased risk for heart disease and type 2 diabetes. People with "apple-shaped" bodies (waist is bigger than the hips) also have an increased risk for these conditions.

Risk Factors

Having a risk factor for a disease doesn't mean that you will get the disease. But it does increase the chance that you will. Some risk factors, like age, race, or family history can't be changed.

The more risk factors you have, the more likely it is that you will develop the disease or health problem.

Your risk of developing health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems increases if you have obesity and have these risk factors:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • High blood cholesterol or triglycerides
  • High blood glucose (sugar), a sign of diabetes

These other risk factors for heart disease and stroke are not caused by obesity:

  • Having a family member under the age of 50 with heart disease
  • Being physically inactive or having a sedentary lifestyle
  • Smoking or using tobacco products of any kind

Summing it up

You can control many of these risk factors by changing your lifestyle. If you have obesity, your provider can help you begin a weight-loss program. A starting goal of losing 5% to 10% of your current weight will significantly reduce your risk of developing obesity-related diseases.

Review Date: 7/8/2023

Reviewed By

Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Overweight and obesity. www.cdc.gov/obesity/index.html. Updated September 27, 2022. Accessed July 30, 2023.

Jensen MD. Obesity. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 207.

Ramu A, Neild P. Diet and nutrition. In: Naish J, Syndercombe Court D, eds. Medical Sciences. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 16.

Disclaimer

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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