Health impacts of obesity

The ripple effect of obesity on health

From physical to mental and emotional well-being, obesity can affect nearly every part of health and every system in the body.

Linked to over 200 conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and mental health challenges, obesity’s health impacts run deep. Addressing it as a chronic disease opens the door to better care and improved outcomes.

Understand the full impact: The 4Ms of obesity

Obesity affects every aspect of life, often in ways we don’t see. The 4Ms framework helps us understand its full impact so you know what kind of  effective, compassionate care you need.

1

Mental Health

Obesity and mental health are closely connected, each influencing the other. 

Living with obesity often affects emotional well-being, made worse by weight stigma and bias. Mental health impacts include: 

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Disordered eating

  • Low self-esteem

  • Negative self-talk

  • Body dissatisfaction

Tackling these challenges is essential to providing compassionate, whole-person care.

A woman is standing against a wall alone
2

Mechanical Impacts 

Obesity places extra strain on the body, contributing to conditions such as:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Incontinence
  • Skin-fold infections (intertrigo)

These physical effects can make everyday activities challenging, limit independence, and significantly impact overall quality of life. 

Compounding these challenges is the inaccessibility of many physical spaces—standard furniture, healthcare equipment, airplanes, and public seating often fail to accommodate diverse body sizes. Addressing these barriers is essential for creating inclusive environments and improving health and well-being for individuals living with obesity.

A man living with obesity is wearing glasses and a green golf shirt. He is smiling at the camera.
3

Metabolic Health

Obesity is closely linked to a range of serious health conditions, including:

  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)
  • Elevated cholesterol
  • Gout
  • Fatty liver disease
  • Infertility
  • Certain types of cancer

Managing these risks requires personalized, evidence-informed care that focuses on improving overall health and reducing complications—not just weight loss.

A woman with short blonde hair is standing looking at the camera with one hand on her hip. She is wearing a white blouse and teal sweater.
4

Monetary Costs

The financial impact of obesity is significant, including higher healthcare expenses, costly medications, and lost productivity at work. Weight bias and discrimination compound these challenges, as individuals living with obesity are often paid lower wages, passed over for promotions, or excluded from professional opportunities despite their qualifications.

Many effective treatments and medications remain uncovered by provincial or private healthcare plans, putting care out of reach for many. Unequal access to trained obesity specialists across Canada creates further barriers to effective treatment.

To truly address obesity and its economic toll, systemic changes are needed to ensure healthcare and equitable opportunities are accessible to everyone.

A woman in a white sweater and red skirt is standing in an office with one hand on her hip.

Find the support you need

Managing obesity is a unique experience, and we’re here to support you. Find tools, tips, and support to help you manage your health journey with confidence.

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Obesity Canada respectfully acknowledges that our work takes place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island, which includes the lands now known as Canada. Our national office is located on Treaty 6 territory, the traditional lands of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux, and Nakota Sioux, and the homeland of the Métis.

We recognize the enduring presence, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonialism, including systemic barriers to health equity. As we work to improve the lives of people living with obesity, we commit to listening, learning, and taking meaningful action to advance reconciliation, health justice, and culturally safe care for all.

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