Health risks of overweight and obesity: How excess weight affects your heart, brain, and organs

Carrying excess weight can affect more than just your appearance; it can impact nearly every part of your body, from your heart and lungs to your liver, kidneys, and joints. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, overweight and obesity significantly increase the risk of numerous health problems, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and certain cancers.

Understanding these risks is essential for taking preventive measures. By adopting healthier lifestyle habits, maintaining a balanced diet, and staying active, individuals can reduce their risk and improve overall well-being.

10 health risks of overweight and obesity

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes occurs when blood sugar levels become too high, often due to the body’s inability to use insulin effectively. Overweight and obesity are major risk factors, with nearly 9 in 10 people with type 2 diabetes carrying excess weight.

Persistently high blood sugar can damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves over time. Losing even 5–7% of your starting weight can significantly reduce your risk. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds, a goal of 10–14 pounds can help prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, improving overall health.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure, or hypertension, happens when blood flows through your arteries at higher than normal pressure.

Excess body weight forces the heart to work harder to circulate blood, while fat around the abdomen can impair kidney function, which regulates blood pressure. Persistent hypertension strains the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. Achieving a healthy weight can lower blood pressure and help prevent these complications, supporting better cardiovascular health and overall wellbeing.

Heart disease

Heart disease encompasses several conditions, including heart attacks, heart failure, and abnormal heart rhythms. Obesity raises the risk by increasing blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Carrying extra weight also forces the heart to work harder to supply blood throughout the body. Weight loss through healthy diet and regular exercise can reduce these risk factors, protect the heart, and lower the chances of developing cardiovascular complications over time.

Stroke

A stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel bursts, damaging brain tissue. Obesity contributes to high blood pressure, a leading cause of stroke, and can worsen other risk factors like high blood sugar and cholesterol. Maintaining a healthy weight, coupled with lifestyle changes such as exercise and balanced nutrition, helps reduce these risks and improves brain health, supporting long-term cognitive function and mobility.

Metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions—including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol levels, and excess abdominal fat—that increase the risk for heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. Being overweight or inactive significantly contributes to this syndrome. Adopting healthy habits, such as regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, and maintaining a healthy weight, can help prevent or reduce metabolic syndrome and its associated health complications.

Fatty liver diseases

Fatty liver diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), occur when fat accumulates in the liver, potentially leading to cirrhosis or liver failure. Obesity is a leading cause, often alongside insulin resistance and high blood fat levels. Losing just 3–5% of body weight can reduce liver fat, improving liver function and lowering the risk of severe liver complications.

Certain cancers

Obesity is linked to a higher risk of several cancers. Men with excess weight are more prone to colon, rectal, and prostate cancers, while women face increased risks of breast (postmenopausal), uterine, and gallbladder cancers. Other affected organs include the liver, pancreas, kidney, and thyroid. Weight management through healthy eating and physical activity can help lower cancer risks and support overall long-term health.

Breathing problems

Obesity can impair lung function and increase the risk of sleep apnea and asthma. Sleep apnea occurs when excess fat around the neck blocks the airway during sleep, causing pauses in breathing and increasing the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Obesity also worsens asthma symptoms and management, making weight loss a key strategy to improve breathing, reduce airway inflammation, and enhance overall respiratory health.

Osteoarthritis and gout

Excess body weight strains joints, contributing to osteoarthritis, particularly in the knees, hips, and ankles. Fat tissue also promotes inflammation, which can worsen joint pain. Gout, a type of arthritis caused by uric acid crystals, is more common in people with obesity. Weight loss reduces joint stress, inflammation, and flare-ups, improving mobility, reducing pain, and enhancing quality of life.

Reproductive and mental health issues

Obesity can affect fertility, sexual function, and pregnancy outcomes.

In women, it can disrupt ovulation and increase the risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. In men, it may lower sperm quality and cause erectile dysfunction. Obesity is also linked to depression, low self-esteem, and long-term stress, often compounded by weight-related bias. Healthy weight management, physical activity, and balanced nutrition can improve fertility, sexual health, mood, and overall mental wellbeing.Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition or lifestyle change.Also Read: Break these 5 habits that are making your neck pain worse