Being overweight can increase your risk for developing a number of serious medical conditions including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure.

The good news is that eating healthy and regular physical activity can help prevent these conditions.

Benefits of healthy weight and lifestyles

Being active and making smart food choices is good for your health. But that's not the only reason to move more and eat better. You can:

• Have more energy
• Reduce stress
• Feel better about yourself
• Relieve boredom or depression
• Set an example for your family

Use this link to learn more about the benefits of healthy lifestyles, www.healthierus.gov.

Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity

If you are overweight or obese you are more likely to develop certain health problems. Being overweight or obese increases a person's risk of developing conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer. You can improve your health by losing as little as 10 to 20 pounds, or 10% of your body weight.

Click on the links below to learn more about health risks about overweight and obesity, its causes and how to treat it.

Health Consequences - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Health Risks - National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Health Risks - National Institutes of Health (NIDDK)

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