Knowing the facts about serious health consequences of being overweight is not all bad news.The flipside of the problems of gaining weight is that losing weight can bring quick and significant health benefits.A reassuring body of research has concluded that if you are seriously overweight (BMI of 30 and more), than losing just 10 per cent of your body weight can improve your health and even add years to your life.

Other Health Benefits

As well as the established evidence of improvements to these life-threatening aspects of obesity, successful slimmers often report that losing weight benefits their health and wellbeing in many other ways, too. These can include improving the symptoms of asthma ; less heavy or painful periods; reducing backache,arthritis pain and gout; improving digestive conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome; getting a better night’s sleep (being seriously overweight can lead to a distressing and dangerous condition called obstructive sleep apnoea); and a general lifting of mood.

Add to all these benefits the overall feel-good factor that comes from having more energy, feeling fitter and healthier, and experiencing the confidence that comes from knowing that you are looking good.It is hardly surprising that people who have lost weight successfully nearly always say: ‘ I just wish i’d done it sooner.’