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Obesity and other conditions

Carrying extra weight can affect your body in many ways. From breathing and sleep problems 
to heart health and fertility, understanding the links can help you take the next step towards better health.  

Obesity and respiratory issues

When you carry extra weight, your lungs and muscles work harder to move air in and out. This can make you feel out of breath, leave you tired after simple activities, or make it harder to breathe.1

Shortness of breath

It's common to feel breathless or wheezy when carrying extra body weight, especially during everyday tasks like climbing stairs or walking. Extra fat around the chest or tummy can make it harder for your lungs to fully expand.1 

Sleep apnoea

Sleep apnoea happens when your breathing stops and starts during sleep. It can cause loud snoring and restless nights and often leads to feeling tired during the day. Extra weight around the neck and upper body can make it worse.2

Obesity and fertility

Weight can influence fertility in many ways, from hormone balance and ovulation to how your body responds to fertility treatments. Difficulties conceiving can be emotionally challenging.3

Obesity and fertility treatments

Extra weight can affect how well fertility treatments such as IVF or ovulation induction work. It may influence hormone levels, egg quality, and how your body responds to medications.4 

Your healthcare team can help you create a plan that supports both your overall health and fertility goals.

Obesity and heart conditions

Being overweight puts extra strain on your heart. Over time, this increases the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, or irregular heart rhythms.5

Heart health and obesity

Carrying extra weight can make your heart work harder, which over time may affect your cardiovascular health.5

What can help: 

  • Add more physical activity to your day, like walking or swimming6
  • Choose balanced meals that include vegetables, lean protein, and fibre7 

Obesity and high blood pressure

High blood pressure (hypertension) is common in people with obesity because extra weight increases strain on blood vessels and the heart.8

What can help: 

  • Eat a balanced, low-salt diet with plenty of fresh foods9
  • Find small ways to move each day8

Understanding obesity and your health

Obesity can be linked to other health conditions, known as comorbidities.

Learn more about obesity and comorbidities
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References

  1. Dixon AE, Peters U. The effect of obesity on lung function. Expert Rev Respir Med. 2018;12(9):755–67. 
  2. Cumpston E, Chen P. Sleep Apnea Syndrome. 2025 – In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing, [cited 2026 Aug]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564431/. 
  3. Zheng L, Yang L, Guo Z, et al. Obesity and its impact on female reproductive health: unraveling the connections. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1326546. 
  4. Malhotra R, Garcia de Paredes J, Smith A, et al. Obesity Epidemic and Its Impact on Female Fertility: Current Understanding and Future Directions. Cureus. 2025;17(7):e87283. 
  5. Poirier P, Giles TD, Bray GA, et al. Obesity and cardiovascular disease: pathophysiology, evaluation, and effect of weight loss: an update of the 1997 American Heart Association Scientific Statement on Obesity and Heart Disease from the Obesity Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism. Circulation. 2006;113(6):898–918. 
  6. NHS. Physical activity guidelines for adults aged 19 to 64. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults-aged-19-to-64/ [Accessed 2026 August]. 
  7. NHS. Eating a balanced diet. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-eat-a-balanced-diet/eating-a-balanced-diet/ [Accessed 2026 August]. 
  8. Shariq OA, McKenzie TJ. Obesity-related hypertension: a review of pathophysiology, management, and the role of metabolic surgery. Gland Surg. 2020;9(1):80–93. 
  9. Sacks FM, Svetkey LP, Vollmer WM, et al. Effects on blood pressure of reduced dietary sodium and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet. DASH-Sodium Collaborative Research Group. N Engl J Med. 2001;344(1):3–10.

 

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