Most people who need to lose weight can get health benefits from losing even a small amount – about 5% – of their weight if they keep it off.

What are the health benefits of losing weight? 

<h1>Health problems linked to being overweight</h1> If you're overweight or obese, you have a higher risk of: <ul> <li><a href="/condition/blood-pressure-high/">high blood pressure</a></li> <li><a href="/condition/coronary-heart-disease/">heart disease</a></li> <li><a href="/condition/stroke/">stroke</a></li> <li><a href="/condition/diabetes/#chapter-diabetes">type 2 diabetes</a></li> <li>some types of <a href="/condition/cancer/">cancer</a></li> <li><a href="/condition/osteoarthritis/">osteoarthritis</a></li> <li>back pain</li> </ul> <h1></h1> ::: body-ad-desktop zones:: 232632,232501,232640 types:: 163 disclaimer:: AD typeFilter:: native_ad adCount:: 1 ::: ::: body-ad-mobile zones:: 232632,232501,232642 types:: 5,163 disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT typeFilter:: display/native_ad adCount:: 1 :::

How do I know if I need to lose weight? 

You can find out if you're overweight by calculating your <a href="/condition/loseweight-bodymassindex/">body mass index (BMI)</a>. This shows whether you're a healthy weight for your height. The size of your waist is also important. If it's too large, your risk of health problems is higher. <h1></h1> ::: body-ad-mobile zones:: 232632,232501,233460 types:: 5 disclaimer:: ADVERTISEMENT typeFilter:: display adCount:: 1 :::

How can I lose weight safely? 

The best way to lose weight is to make small, realistic changes to your diet and how physically active you are. The amount of physical activity you should do depends on your age. For example, adults between the ages of 19 and 64 should do 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity. Find out more about the <a href="/condition/fitness-physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults/">physical activity guidelines</a>. Read more about <a href="/condition/goodfood-healthyeating/">eating a balanced diet</a>.



Most people who need to lose weight can get health benefits from losing even a small amount – about 5% – of their weight if they keep it off.


### Health problems linked to being overweight 

If you're overweight or obese, you have a higher risk of:

- [high blood pressure](/condition/blood-pressure-high/)
- [heart disease](/condition/coronary-heart-disease/)
- [stroke](/condition/stroke/)
- [type 2 diabetes](/condition/diabetes/#chapter-diabetes)
- some types of [cancer](/condition/cancer/)
- [osteoarthritis](/condition/osteoarthritis/)
- back pain


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## How do I know if I need to lose weight? 

You can find out if you're overweight by calculating your [body mass index (BMI)](/condition/loseweight-bodymassindex/). This shows whether you're a healthy weight for your height.

The size of your waist is also important. If it's too large, your risk of health problems is higher. 


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## How can I lose weight safely? 

The best way to lose weight is to make small, realistic changes to your diet and how physically active you are.

The amount of physical activity you should do depends on your age. For example, adults between the ages of 19 and 64 should do 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity. Find out more about the [physical activity guidelines](/condition/fitness-physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults/).

Read more about [eating a balanced diet](/condition/goodfood-healthyeating/).

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References

All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our <a href="/safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safety page</a>, or read our <a href="/legal/editorial-policy-principles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">editorial policy</a>.

Article information

If you're overweight or obese, losing weight can reduce your risk of some potentially serious health problems. Learn about the health benefits of losing weight here - using content verified by certified doctors.