Some types of short stature have much broader bones and heavier bones than others and all people with disproportionate short stature can be expected to weight more than an average sized child of the same height. Thus, we must resort to other means of telling whether someone is overweight. Nutritionists have devised the 'pinch' test for average sized people and in many ways, this works for a person with short stature as well. What this means is that you pick up the skin on your trunk overlying your abdomen or your ribs. If, when you pick up the skin, you pick up more than half inch of tissue, the individual is overweight.
Many little people are overweight and have been for many years and are very frustrated about it.
There are indeed many reasons to lose weight but probably the most important one is for future health. It is very clear that in average sized individuals as well as short statured individuals that being overweight leads to strain on joints, on the heart and on the whole system. People who are overweight die 10 to 20 years earlier than they should. But there are a number of other reasons to try to reach a more ideal weight and these include self esteem, more attractive appearance and a feeling of well being. The problem for many little people is that they have tried for many years to lose weight and they have not been able to.