A: Obesity is a potentially deadly condition. Poor nutrition and physical inactivity account for some 300,000 premature deaths in the United States each year. ³ Obesity-related illness results in hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths each year in the United States and billions of dollars in health care costs.

Being obese causes an increased risk for developing a number of serious and potentially lethal health problems, including: hypertension/high blood pressure, non-insulin-dependent or Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and gallstones and gall bladder disease. The Centers for Disease Control also include the following in their list of possible health consequences of obesity:

• High blood cholesterol, dyslipidemia
• Insulin resistance, glucose intolerance
• Congestive heart failure
• Cholescystitis and cholelithiasis
• Gout
• Osteoarthritis
• Some types of cancer (such as endometrial, breast, prostate, and colon)
• Complications of pregnancy
• Poor female reproductive health (such as menstrual irregularities, infertility, irregular ovulation)
• Bladder control problems (such as stress incontinence)
• Psychological disorders (such as depression, eating disorders, distorted body image, and low self- esteem)

There are also other gender-specific health risks among obese women and men. For example, according to the National Women's Health Resource Center, if a woman’s waist circumference is more than 35 inches, she is considered to have a high amount of visceral fat, which is the type of fat that surrounds the internal organs. This type of fat is associated with higher risk of certain, serious diseases (e.g. liver disease) and chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

Several of the most severe and prevalent life-threatening illnesses among the male population are also correlated to obesity. Obese men are more likely than non-obese men to die from cancer of the colon, rectum, or prostate. ⁴ Obese men are also more likely than women to suffer from sleep apnea, a very serious, possibly life-threatening condition which is associated with stroke and heart attack.

With these health risks in mind, the question is not "Why lose weight?", it is instead -- "What better reason can there be?" If the cosmetic benefit of a healthy weight is a not priority for you, I certainly understand. If the idea of fitting into a certain size has lost its appeal, more power to you! But think about it. None of us -- no one -- would rather eat what we want every day rather than living a long, healthy life!

Sources:
³ CDC: Frequently Asked Questions
⁴ Understanding Adult Obesity