High Cholesterol control.

What Is Obese?

More than a third of U.S. adults are. It's a medical term that means you weigh at least 20% more than what is ideal for someone your height, often because of body fat. It's measured by BMI (body mass index): 30 and higher is considered obese. That extra weight, especially as fat around your waist, can lead to health issues that often feed off of each other. Shedding pounds may prevent, slow, or even reverse many of them.

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Trouble Breathing

Your larger body may prevent your lungs from expanding fully, and your breathing muscles may not work as well, so you can't take enough air in. Inflammation linked to belly fat may also affect your lungs. You could get winded quickly while doing simple activities like climbing stairs. Extra weight can make asthma symptoms and COPD worse.

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Fatty Liver Disease

When fat builds up in your liver, it may make scar tissue (a condition known as cirrhosis) that can eventually shut your liver down completely. Symptoms may not appear until the damage is done. Doctors don't know exactly what causes fatty liver disease, but you're more likely to have problems when you're overweight, especially in middle age.

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Osteoarthritis

More weight puts more strain on your joints and on the cartilage that protects the ends of your bones, causing pain and stiffness. More body fat may also trigger more inflammation. Just 5% less body weight will take pressure off of your hips, lower back, and knees. (That's dropping from 200 pounds to 190.) Exercise is one of the best things you can do for arthritis. Talk to your doctor about what kind and how much is right for you.

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High Cholesterol

While your genes have some influence, what you eat and how much you exercise also play a role. Unhealthy foods can raise your weight and your "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Foods with soluble fiber -- like oats and other whole grains, beans, apples, grapes, strawberries, eggplant, and okra -- will help get your cholesterol down as well as fill you up so you eat fewer calories.