The health problems associated with obesity are numerous. Obesity is not just a cosmetic problem. It's a health hazard. Someone who is 40% overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely as is an average-weight person. This is because obesity has been linked to several serious medical conditions, including:
* Heart disease and stroke.
* High blood pressure.
* Diabetes.
* Cancer.
* Gallbladder disease and gallstones.
* Osteoarthritis.
* Gout.
* Breathing problems, such as sleep apnea (when a person stops breathing for a short time during sleep) and asthma.