The Real Health Risks of Extra Weight:

Type 2 Diabetes
80% of people with this condition are overweight. It starts with high blood sugar and leads to serious complications — heart issues, nerve damage, vision loss, and more.
Just 5–7% weight loss can prevent or delay it.

Heart Disease & High Blood Pressure
Extra weight = extra strain on your heart.
This can cause heart attacks, strokes, and even sudden death.

Stroke
High blood pressure from excess weight is a top cause of strokes—which can leave you unable to speak or move.

Sleep Apnea
Weight gain can interrupt your breathing while sleeping.
It’s linked to fatigue, heart problems, and even type 2 diabetes.

Metabolic Syndrome
This group of conditions includes:
High blood pressure
High blood sugar
Low HDL (good cholesterol)
High belly fat
High triglycerides
All of which are connected to heart disease and diabetes.

Fatty Liver Disease
Too much fat in your liver = big trouble.
This can lead to liver damage, cirrhosis, or even liver failure.

Joint Pain & Osteoarthritis
Every extra pound adds stress to your joints — especially your knees, hips, and back.

Gallstones
Extra body fat can throw your bile off balance and trigger painful gallstones.

Certain Cancers
Excess weight increases your risk of multiple types of cancer, including breast, colon, and kidney cancers.

Kidney Disease
Obesity damages the kidneys — even if you don’t have diabetes or high blood pressure.

Pregnancy Complications
From gestational diabetes to C-sections, extra weight makes pregnancy riskier for both mother and baby.

Emotional & Mental Health Struggles

It’s not just physical.
Being overweight is often linked to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and even social bias — especially from healthcare providers.
This can lead to a harmful cycle of stress, emotional eating, and more weight gain