The more overweight you are, the more likely you are to have health problems.
Weight loss can help improve the harmful effects of being overweight.
However, many overweight people have difficulty reaching their healthy body weight. Studies show that you can improve your health by losing as little as 10 to 20 pounds. Heart Disease and Stroke Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death and disability for both men and women in the United States. Overweight people are more likely to have high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, than people who are not overweight. The good news is that losing a small amount of weight can reduce your chances of developing heart disease or a stroke.