How does being overweight or obese affect a person’s health?

When people are or overweight or obese, they are more likely to develop health problems such as the following:

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  Hypertension
  Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
  Type 2 diabetes
  Coronary heart disease
  Stroke
  Gallbladder disease
  Osteoarthritis
  Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
  Some cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

The more overweight a person is, the more likely that person is to have health problems. Among people who are overweight and obese, weight loss can help reduce the chances of developing these health problems. Studies show that if a person is overweight or obese, reducing body weight by 5 percent to 10 percent can improve one’s health.