Americans are not balancing food energy intakes with physical activity. Overweight Costs Are Burdensome Excess pounds are costly to the health of individuals and to the Nation. The board's estimate does not include psychosocial costs ranging from lowered self-esteem to eating disorders to depression.
Risk increases with higher relative weight.
Rates of hypertension and diabetes are nearly triple for people 20 percent or more overweight. Metabolic and functional alterations associated with overweight may lead to increased rates of gout, gallbladder disease, colorectal cancer, hip fracture, and osteoarthritis. Obese women are at increased risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer. Overweight in childhood increases morbidity and mortality in adulthood. One of the biggest risk factors for children is having an overweight parent.