Why It's Important to Lose Weight

More than 140 million American adults are

overweight. Of these, nearly 66 million are

obese. People who are overweight or obese are

more likely to develop heart disease and stroke,

even if they have no other risk factors.

Obesity is unhealthy because excess weight

puts more strain on your heart. It can raise blood

pressure and blood cholesterol and can lead to

diabetes. Losing weight is one of the best ways

to reduce your risk of heart problems and

other diseases.