According to the American Heart Association the risk of death increases with weight. Nearly 112,000 deaths per year may be attributable to obesity. Those individuals with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 are more likely to die than compared to people at a healthy weight. Here are some of the consequences of weight gain presented on the American Heart Association’s website:

• A weight gain of 11 to 18 pounds increases a person’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes to twice that of people who have not gained weight.

• Over 80 percent of people with diabetes are overweight or obese.

• Overweight and obesity are associated with an increased risk for some types of cancer including endometrial (cancer of the lining of the uterus), colon, gall bladder, prostate, kidney and postmenopausal breast cancer.

• The incidence of heart disease is higher in persons who are overweight or obese.

• High blood pressure is more common in adults who are obese than in those who are at a healthy weight.

• Obesity is associated with elevated triglycerides (blood fat) and decreased HDL cholesterol (“good”) cholesterol.

• Women gaining more than 20 pounds from age 18 to midlife double their risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, compared to women whose weight remains stable.

• Sleep apnea (interrupted breathing while sleeping) is more common in obese persons.

• Obesity is associated with a higher prevalence of asthma.

• For every 2-pound increase in weight, the risk of developing arthritis increases by 9 to 13 percent.

Do you need more reasons to lose weight? Remember – it’s not about appearance, it’s about your health. Check your BMI. If you are at a healthy weight – be glad and work to keep it there. If your BMI is high – review the list above and come up with a plan to get yourself in a better health situation.