Why Lose Weight?

The American Heart Association reports that nearly 112,000 premature deaths a year in the United States may be attributable to obesity, while the University of Maryland Medical Center puts that estimate at 300,000. In addition to shortening life expectancy, excess weight increases risks of a wide range of conditions affecting quality of life. By shedding pounds through exercise and healthy eating, you're doing yourself a favor --- and setting an example for the next generation. Consult your doctor before beginning any new weight-loss program.

Live Longer

One of the largest studies ever conducted into weight and premature death pooled 19 long-term studies tracking 1.5 million adults for five to 28 years. Published in 2010 in the "New England Journal of Medicine," the study reported that risks rose in proportion to increases in body mass index. Overweight people were 13 percent more likely to die than those within a healthy BMI range; obese people were in 44- to 88-percent greater danger; and extremely fat people were 2.5 times more apt to go to an early grave.

Feel Better

Excess weight strains all systems, draining the body's energy. The heart, lungs and muscles have to work harder, and the additional burden on bones and joints increases the risk of osteoarthritis. Among overweight people, metabolic syndrome, a pre-diabetic condition, is so widespread that the University of Maryland Medical Center cites a 2002 study reporting that nearly 25 percent of Americans suffer from it. Characterized by a concentration of abdominal fat, high blood pressure, dangerous cholesterol levels and insulin resistance, the condition is associated with heart disease and increased risk of death from all causes. Even moderate weight loss, particularly when combined with exercise, has beneficial effects on health and well-being.

Boost Self-Esteem

Being overweight is hard on self-esteem, especially for women. The idealization of skinny female bodies in television programs, commercials and print advertisements has contributed to distorted body images and fostered unattainable weight objectives. At a 2006 Cornell University symposium, Dr. Scott Goldsmith, associate dean for continuing medical education at Weill Cornell Medical Center, referred to research indicating that a disappointing reading on the bathroom scales can adversely affect a woman's mood for days. "Commercial ploys" capitalize on insecurities, promoting quick-loss diets that don't work over the long term and make women feel even worse about themselves. The cornerstone of any successful weight-loss program is a lifelong regimen of exercise and a calorie-restricted diet, Goldsmith said.

Set An Example for the Kids

In the U.S. and elsewhere, children are imitating the eating habits of their elders. According to the American Heart Association, one in three American children were overweight or obese as of 2010, putting them at elevated risk of premature death in adulthood. The chances that an overweight child will become an overweight adult are 70 to 80 percent. Obesity has sent levels of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and clogged arteries soaring among children, and the psychological scars from low self-esteem, social marginalization and depression can last a lifetime. As former surgeon general Richard Carmona observed, if the pattern continues, "we may see the first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents."