• Stroke. When your brain cannot receive the oxygen and other nutrients it needs to survive, it dies. This happens when blood vessels carrying the oxygen and nutrients are either blocked by a clot or they burst. Depending on the region of the brain that has suffered a lack of oxygen; a person having a stroke could lose brain functions, such as vision, movement, memory loss and speech and language abilities, or a stroke could result in death.

• Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is when your body cannot produce enough insulin (a hormone produced by your pancreas) or cannot properly use the insulin your body produces to function properly. Having Type 2 diabetes can lead to vision loss, heart disease, kidney disease and loss of limbs.

• Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage in your body breaks down. When it occurs, your joints are no longer cushioned by the cartilage, which results in your bones rubbing against each other. This causes pain, stiffness and loss of movement. Being obese can play a large role in osteoarthritis – especially affecting your knees since they are responsible for supporting your weight.

• Gallbladder disease. Gallbladder disease is the slowing or obstruction of the gallbladder usually caused by inflammation, infection or gallstones. It is quite painful, and could ultimately result in the removal of the gallbladder. Being obese or even moderately overweight can greatly increase your chances of suffering from gallbladder disease because it reduces the amount of bile salts in the bile produced in your gallbladder – which then increases the cholesterol levels. Obesity can also stop your gallbladder from effectively emptying.

• Cancer. Cancer is caused by abnormal cell growth affecting different parts of your body. Most cancers create tumors, but some (like leukemia) cancers affect the blood, which circulates the cancer cells through the body’s tissues. Some studies have shown that being obese can increase your risk of some cancers – specifically breast, colon, kidney, esophageal and endometrial cancers. In 2002 alone, 44,000 new cases of cancer were primarily due to being obese.

So, with all the harmful effects that obesity can potentially cause, don’t you think you owe it to your children and yourself to maintain a healthy lifestyle?