Too much fat in your body makes you obese and this excess weight can not only affect your health in several ways, but also make you lethargic and less than alert at most times.

A person is considered overweight if his or her bodyweight is at least 20 percent higher than it should be based on the height-to-weight ratio. It also depends on the Body Mass Index (BMI), which should ideally be below 25. If you have a BMI ranging between 25 and 29.9 you are considered overweight and if it crosses 30, then you will be termed obese.

The BMI is a statistical measurement derived from your height and weight. Although it is considered to be a useful way to estimate healthy body weight, it does not measure the percentage of body fat.

Obesity is found to be a major trigger behind diseases affecting the vital organs like heart and brain. It is also linked with several other life-threatening conditions including various cancers. Therefore, it is highly recommended to keep a trim body devoid of excess fat.

Listed here are five great reasons why you should shed those excess pounds:

1. It keeps your body more active: Cutting down the flab will make you capable of doing more exercise. The more active you are the more calories you burn

2. It minimizes the risk factors leading to heart attack. Losing weight can often reverse the risk factors that directly cause heart disease

3. It helps cuts down blood pressure and cholesterol levels; Higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels also come down naturally as you start losing weight

4. For the ageing: Weight loss can improve heart rates regardless of your age. Being slightly obese at a younger age causes a greater increase in risk of heart disease.

5. For women: Women are more prone to heart diseases after menopause. Excess body weight could contribute to the problem. So, weight loss will certainly help them to keep the risk to the minimum.