As that old saying goes, “The longer the belt, the shorter the life,” is entirely accurate. Obesity is not simply an esthetic problem, but a severe threat to health and longevity. Obesity can lead to a number of grave medical conditions such as heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, gallbladder disease and gallstones, osteoarthritis, gout, and breathing problems like sleep apnea and asthma.
The photo below is of two women that are the same age and height. These images were taken with a thermographic scanner. In this photo you can see that one woman is overweight, and the other is well within her normal weight.
The results were scary.
The Health Dangers of Being Overweight
Cardiovascular problems
Obesity is linked to cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke, in 70 percent of diagnosed cases.
Diabetes
Being overweight contributes to developing diabetes because it makes the body more sensitive to insulin.
Cancer
Scientific studies have found a relationship between excess body fat and cancer. Excess body fat is believed to be a storage place for carcinogens – cancer-causing chemicals. In women, excess body fat has been linked to a higher rate of breast and uterine cancer; in men, the threat comes from colon and prostate cancer.
High Cholesterol
Being obese can raise your cholesterol to unhealthy levels.
Sleep apnea.
This is a dangerous condition that causes breathing to temporarily stop during sleep.
Cognitive Issues
Researchers have found that obesity is the primary cause of mental deterioration among the middle-aged and senior populations.
Source; Higher perspective