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Risks of Living with Overweight and Obesity

Last Updated: Wednesday, 19 August 2026

Risks of Living with Overweight and Obesity

Having a raised BMI can increase your risk of developing several serious health conditions, including:

  • Type 2 diabetes

  • Heart disease

  • Stroke

  • High blood pressure

  • Certain types of cancer, including breast, womb and bowel cancer

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Fatty liver disease

Living with obesity may also reduce life expectancy by approximately 2 to 10 years, depending on factors such as the severity of obesity and other health conditions.

Obesity can also affect your day-to-day quality of life and may cause:

  • Breathlessness

  • Difficulty with mobility and physical activity

  • Persistent tiredness or fatigue

  • Joint and back pain

  • Snoring

  • Mental health difficulties, including low mood and depression

The good news is that losing weight can significantly reduce the risk of many obesity-related health conditions. Even a modest weight loss of 5–10% of your body weight can lead to meaningful improvements in your overall health and wellbeing.

For more information, please see Overweight and obesity in adults - NHS.

Weight Management Support

You may be eligible for one of the following weight-management programmes:

1. Active Lifestyles Sefton – Weight Management Referral

Active Lifestyles Sefton offers a significantly reduced-cost gym membership alongside a tailored weight-management plan.

For more information, see the link Home - Active Lifestyles Sefton.

Eligibility for referral (aged 18 and over):

Patients may be suitable for referral if they are physically inactive and meet one of the following criteria:

  • BMI 25–29.9 with relevant risk factors or comorbidities

  • BMI 30–39.9 with no identified risk factors or comorbidities

  • Waist circumference of 94–102 cm for men or 80–88 cm for women

2. NHS Digital Weight Management Programme

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme supports adults living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension, or both.

This is a 12-week online behavioural and lifestyle programme that can be accessed using a smartphone, tablet, or computer with an internet connection.

For more information, see the link :NHS England » The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme.

3. Local Authority Healthy Weight Programmes and Specialist (Tier 3) Weight Management Services

Specialist weight-management support is available through Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 

A GP makes referrals through the Electronic Referral System (ERS).

All referrals must include:

  • A recent height and weight

  • BMI

  • Relevant past medical history

  • Details of any obesity-related comorbidities

Referral criteria generally include:

  • BMI over 40, or

  • BMI 35–40 with obesity-related comorbidities

For more information, see the link: Weight Management :: NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group

 

Important Information

Please note that none of the providers listed above can currently prescribe GLP-1 weight-loss medications, including semaglutide (Wegovy) or tirzepatide (Mounjaro).