WIN Weight-control Information Network

U.S. DEPARTMENT

OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Do You Know

the Health Risks

of Being Overweight?

What are the risks to my health from being

overweight?

Weighing too much may increase your risk for developing many health

problems. If you are overweight or obese on a body mass index (BMI) chart

(see page 2), you may be at risk for:

■ Type 2 diabetes

■ Heart disease and stroke

■ Cancer

■ Sleep apnea

■ Osteoarthritis

■ Gallbladder disease

■ Fatty liver disease.

You can lower your health risks by losing as little as 10 to 20 pounds.

Type 2 diabetes

What is it?

Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes or noninsulindependent diabetes. It is the most common type of diabetes in the U.S.

Type 2 diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar levels are above normal.

High blood sugar is a major cause of early death, heart disease, kidney

disease, stroke, and blindness.

How is it linked to overweight?

More than 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. It is

not known exactly why people who are overweight are more likely to

suffer from this disease. It may be that being overweight causes cells to

If you are

overweight, you

are more likely to

develop certain

health problems.

You can improve

your health by

losing as little as

10 to 20 pounds.
2

To use the table, find the appropriate height in the left-hand column labeled Height. Move across to a given weight.

The number at the top of the column is the BMI at that height and weight. Pounds have been rounded off.

BMI 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Height

(inches) Body Weight (pounds)

58 91 96 100 105 110 115 119 124 129 134 138 143 148 153 158 162 167 172 177 181 186 191

59 94 99 104 109 114 119 124 128 133 138 143 148 153 158 163 168 173 178 183 188 193 198

60 97 102 107 112 118 123 128 133 138 143 148 153 158 163 168 174 179 184 189 194 199 204

61 100 106 111 116 122 127 132 137 143 148 153 158 164 169 174 180 185 190 195 201 206 211

62 104 109 115 120 126 131 136 142 147 153 158 164 169 175 180 186 191 196 202 207 213 218

63 107 113 118 124 130 135 141 146 152 158 163 169 175 180 186 191 197 203 208 214 220 225

64 110 116 122 128 134 140 145 151 157 163 169 174 180 186 192 197 204 209 215 221 227 232

65 114 120 126 132 138 144 150 156 162 168 174 180 186 192 198 204 210 216 222 228 234 240

66 118 124 130 136 142 148 155 161 167 173 179 186 192 198 204 210 216 223 229 235 241 247

67 121 127 134 140 146 153 159 166 172 178 185 191 198 204 211 217 223 230 236 242 249 255

68 125 131 138 144 151 158 164 171 177 184 190 197 203 210 216 223 230 236 243 249 256 262

69 128 135 142 149 155 162 169 176 182 189 196 203 209 216 223 230 236 243 250 257 263 270

70 132 139 146 153 160 167 174 181 188 195 202 209 216 222 229 236 243 250 257 264 271 278

71 136 143 150 157 165 172 179 186 193 200 208 215 222 229 236 243 250 257 265 272 279 286

72 140 147 154 162 169 177 184 191 199 206 213 221 228 235 242 250 258 265 272 279 287 294

73 144 151 159 166 174 182 189 197 204 212 219 227 235 242 250 257 265 272 280 288 295 302

74 148 155 163 171 179 186 194 202 210 218 225 233 241 249 256 264 272 280 287 295 303 311

75 152 160 168 176 184 192 200 208 216 224 232 240 248 256 264 272 279 287 295 303 311 319

76 156 164 172 180 189 197 205 213 221 230 238 246 254 263 271 279 287 295 304 312 320 328

Body Mass Index Table

change, making them less effective at using sugar

from the blood. This then puts stress on the cells that

produce insulin (a hormone that carries sugar from

the blood to cells) and makes them gradually fail.

What can weight loss do?

You can lower your risk for developing type 2

diabetes by losing weight and increasing the amount

of physical activity you do. If you have type 2

diabetes, losing weight and becoming more

physically active can help you control your blood

sugar levels. Losing weight and exercising more may

also allow you to reduce the amount of diabetes

medication you take.

Heart disease and stroke

What is it?

Heart disease means that the heart and circulation

(blood flow) are not functioning normally. If you

have heart disease, you may suffer from a heart

attack, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac
death, angina (chest pain), or abnormal heart

rhythm. During a stroke, blood and oxygen do not

flow normally to the brain, possibly causing paralysis

or death. Heart disease is the leading cause of death

in the U.S., and stroke is the third leading cause.

How is it linked to overweight?

People who are overweight are more likely to suffer

from high blood pressure, high levels of triglycerides

(blood fats) and LDL cholesterol (a fat-like substance

often called the “bad cholesterol”), and low levels of

HDL cholesterol (the “good cholesterol”). These are all

risk factors for heart disease and stroke. In addition,

people with more body fat have higher blood levels

of substances that cause inflammation.

Inflammation in blood vessels and throughout the

body may raise heart disease risk.

What can weight loss do?

Losing 5 to 15 percent of your weight can lower your

chances for developing heart disease or having a

stroke. If you weigh 200 pounds, this means losing as

little as 10 pounds. Weight loss may improve your

blood pressure, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels;

improve how your heart works and your blood flows;

and decrease inflammation throughout your body.

Cancer

What is it?

Cancer occurs when cells in one part of the body,

such as the colon, grow abnormally or out of control

and possibly spread to other parts of the body, such

as the liver. Cancer is the second leading cause of

death in the U.S.

How is it linked to overweight?

Being overweight may increase the risk of developing

several types of cancer, including cancers of the

colon, esophagus, and kidney. Overweight is also

linked with uterine and postmenopausal breast

cancer in women. Gaining weight during adult life

increases the risk for several of these cancers. Being

overweight also may increase the risk of dying from

some cancers. It is not known exactly how being

overweight increases cancer risk. It may be that fat

cells make hormones that affect cell growth and lead

to cancer. Also, eating or physical activity habits that

may lead to being overweight may also contribute to

cancer risk.

What can weight loss do?

Avoiding weight gain may prevent a rise in cancer

risk. Weight loss, and healthy eating and physical

activity habits, may lower cancer risk.

Sleep apnea

What is it?

Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person stops

breathing for short periods during the night. A

person who has sleep apnea may suffer from daytime

sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, and even heart

failure.

How is it linked to overweight?

The risk for sleep apnea is higher for people who are

overweight. A person who is overweight may have

more fat stored around his or her neck. This may

make the airway smaller. A smaller airway can make

breathing difficult, loud (snoring), or stop altogether.

In addition, fat stored in the neck and throughout

the body can produce substances that cause

inflammation. Inflammation in the neck may be a

risk factor for sleep apnea.

What can weight loss do?

Weight loss usually improves sleep apnea. Weight

loss may help to decrease neck size and lessen

inflammation.

3
Osteoarthritis

What is it?

Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder. With

osteoarthritis, the joint bone and cartilage (tissue

that protects joints) wear away. Osteoarthritis most

often affects the joints of the knees, hips, and lower

back.

How is it linked to overweight?

Extra weight may place extra pressure on joints and

cartilage, causing them to wear away. In addition,

people with more body fat may have higher blood

levels of substances that cause inflammation.

Inflammation at the joints may raise the risk for

osteoarthritis.

What can weight loss do?

Weight loss can decrease stress on your knees, hips,

and lower back, and lessen inflammation in your

body. If you have osteoarthritis, losing weight may

help improve your symptoms.

Gallbladder disease

What is it?

Gallstones are clusters of solid material that form in

the gallbladder. They are made mostly of cholesterol

and can sometimes cause abdominal or back pain.

How is it linked to overweight?

People who are overweight have a higher risk for

developing gallbladder disease and gallstones. They

may produce more cholesterol, a risk factor for

gallstones. Also, people who are overweight may

have an enlarged gallbladder, which may not work

properly.

What can weight loss do?

Weight loss—especially fast weight loss (more than 3

pounds per week) or loss of a large amount of

weight—can actually increase your chance of

developing gallstones. Modest, slow weight loss of

about 1/2 to 2 pounds a week is less likely to cause

gallstones.

Fatty liver disease

What is it?

Fatty liver disease occurs when fat builds up in the

liver cells and causes injury and inflammation in the

liver. It can sometimes lead to severe liver damage,

cirrhosis (build-up of scar tissue that blocks proper

blood flow in the liver), or even liver failure. Fatty

liver disease is like alcoholic liver damage, but it is

not caused by alcohol and can occur in people who

drink little or no alcohol. The National Digestive

Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) at

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/nash/

has more information on fatty liver disease or

nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

How is it linked to overweight?

People who have diabetes or “pre-diabetes” (when

blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not

yet in the diabetic range) are more likely to have

fatty liver disease than people without these

conditions. And people who are overweight are more

likely to have diabetes (see Type 2 diabetes above). It

is not known why some people who are overweight

or diabetic get fatty liver and others do not.

What can weight loss do?

Losing weight can help you control your blood sugar

levels. It can also reduce the build-up of fat in your

liver and prevent further injury. People with fatty

liver disease should avoid drinking alcohol.

4
How can I lower my health risks?

If you are overweight, losing as little as 5 percent of

your body weight may lower your risk for several

diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. If you

weigh 200 pounds, this means losing 10 pounds. Slow

and steady weight loss of 1/2 to 2 pounds per week,

and not more than 3 pounds per week, is the safest

way to lose weight.

To lose weight and keep it off over time, try to make

long-term changes in your eating and physical

activity habits. Choose healthy foods, such as

vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and low-fat meat

and dairy products, more often and eat just enough

food to satisfy you. Try to do at least 30 minutes of

moderate-intensity physical activity—like walking—

on most days of the week, preferably every day. To

lose weight, or to maintain weight loss, you may

need to do more than 30 minutes of moderate

physical activity daily.

The Weight-control Information Network (WIN)

offers many fact sheets to help you eat better and

increase your physical activity. WIN fact sheets are

listed below.

Active at Any Size describes the benefits of being

physically active no matter what a person’s size, and

presents a variety of activities that very large people

can enjoy safely.

Just Enough for You: About Food Portions describes

the difference between a portion—the amount of

food a person chooses to eat—and a measured

serving. It offers tips for judging portion sizes and for

controlling portions at home and when eating out.

Walking...A Step in the Right Direction offers tips

for getting started on a walking program and

illustrates warm-up stretching exercises. It also

includes a sample walking program.

5

Weight and Waist Measurement Tools for Adults

offers guidance on determining whether your weight

is healthy.

Weight Loss for Life contains information about

safe and effective weight loss programs and offers

tips to help you create your own weight loss plan.

Additional resources

National Cancer Institute

NCI Public Inquiries Office

Suite 3036A

6116 Executive Boulevard, MSC8322

Bethesda, MD 20892-8322

Phone: 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237)

TTY: 1-800-332-8615

www.nci.nih.gov

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse

1 Information Way

Bethesda, MD 20892-3560

Phone: 1-800-860-8747 or (301) 654-3327

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov

National Digestive Diseases Information

Clearinghouse

2 Information Way

Bethesda, MD 20892-3570

Phone: 1-800-891-5389 or (301) 654-3810

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

NHLBI Health Information Center

P.O. Box 30105

Bethesda, MD 20824-0105

Phone: (301) 592-8573

TTY: (240) 629-3255

www.nhlbi.nih.gov
Weight-control

Information

Network

1 WIN WAY

BETHESDA, MD 20892-3665

Phone: (202) 828-1025

Toll-free number:

1-877-946-4627

FAX: (202) 828-1028

Email: WIN@info.niddk.nih.gov

Internet:

www.win.niddk.nih.gov

The Weight-control Information

Network (WIN) is a service of the

National Institute of Diabetes and

Digestive and Kidney Diseases

of the National Institutes of Health,

which is the Federal Government’s

lead agency responsible for

biomedical research on nutrition

and obesity. Authorized by Congress

(Public Law 103-43), WIN provides

the general public, health

professionals, the media, and

Congress with up-to-date, sciencebased health information on weight

control, obesity, physical activity,

and related nutritional issues.

WIN answers inquiries, develops and

distributes publications, and works

closely with professional and patient

organizations and Government

agencies to coordinate resources

about weight control and related

issues.

Publications produced by WIN are

reviewed by both NIDDK scientists

and outside experts. This publication

was reviewed by Rachel BallardBarbash, M.D., M.P.H., Associate

Director, Applied Research Program,

National Cancer Institute; Robert

Eckel, M.D., Professor of Medicine,

Physiology, and Biophysics, University

of Colorado Health Sciences Center;

and Arthur Frank, M.D., Medical

Director, The George Washington

University Weight Management

Program.

This publication is not copyrighted. WIN

encourages users of this fact sheet to duplicate

and distribute as many copies as desired.

This fact sheet is also available at

www.win.niddk.nih.gov NIH Publication No. 04-4098

November 2004

National Institute of Diabetes and

Digestive and Kidney Diseases

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Information Clearinghouse

1 AMS Circle

Bethesda, Maryland 20892-3675

Phone: 1-877-22-NIAMS (1-877-226-4267) or (301) 495-4484

TTY: (301) 565-2966

www.nhlbi.nih.gov