It is difficult to measure how much 'quality of life' is improved if you lose some weight. Many people feel better, and have more energy. Some people notice an improvement in their self-esteem.

There are also definite health benefits from losing some weight. Many diseases are more common in obese and overweight people, and you are less likely to develop them if you lose some weight. They include: diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart problems, some types of cancer, arthritis of the back and legs, gallstones, menstrual problems, incontinence of urine, breathing problems, some complications of pregnancy, and depression.
What is more, for most obese or overweight people, much of the health benefits come with losing the first 5-10% of your weight. This is often about 5-10 kg. (10 kg is about one and a half stone.) If you are obese, on average, if you reduce your weight by 10%:

• You are much less likely to develop the conditions listed above, such as diabetes.
• If you already have high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, or diabetes, these conditions are likely to improve. If you are taking medication for these problems, you may need a reduced dose.
• Your chance of dying at any given age is reduced by about 20%. This is mainly because you are less likely to die from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or obesity related cancers.

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