It is recognised by all of the medical profession that if you want to be healthier, lose weight because being overweight is a condition that can cause serious health problems and even death. Those who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop a number of serious health problems but what is it to be overweight? Weight is determined to a great degree by the balance between how many calories you consume and the amount of energy you burn in everyday activities so the less activity you are involved with the more weight you gain. For some people there is no 'balance" between the amount of food they eat and what they burn off which can cause them to be overweight.

Being overweight is defined as a condition of weighing more that what is ideal for their height and body frame known as body mass index or BMI. Excess weight may come from muscle, bone, fat or body water, however no matter what is making you overweight, it is important to get it under control. When a person is over their ideal weight of 20 percent or more are considered to have a problem with obesity although a person can be overweight without being considered to be obese.

There are dangers with being overweight some of which are obvious and some are not. The main danger that almost every overweight person has to deal with is high blood pressure. The reason that high blood pressure occurs in an overweight person is because your body holds sodium and when that happens blood volume increases and blood pressure rises. Diabetes is another problem that can arise in obese persons which according to studies is the leading cause of type 2 diabetes as when your body has excess fat; it makes your body resistant to insulin. A serious problem that can arise from being overweight is the risks of having a stroke the combination of high blood pressure and other health factors caused by being overweight can cause stoke which debilitates you for life.

Some times your genetics can play a roll in your weight battle as genes can play a role in how your body balances calories and energy so overweight is not always caused through overeating. Also the kinds of foods that you choose to eat can have a lot to do with whether you are overweight or not as well, if you eat mostly high-fat foods it is likely that you may gain more weight.

If you are inactive you will be more likely to gain a lot of weight because there has to be a balance between what you consume by way of calories and how many you burn off. Studies also show that as we get older we gain weight and have to work harder to work it off or eat less.

If you are obese or overweight it is important that you lose weight and you should consult your doctor, before embarking on a programme of weight loss.