Four out of 10 Irish people are overweight, and more than one fifth are obese. Shockingly, nearly a third of young people age 15 to 24 fall into the overweight category.

It’s clear that we are facing a major problem, particularly in respect of the future strains on our already stretched health service. But, at an individual level, what is the real risk that we are subjecting ourselves to when we carry excess weight? And what could the possible impact be of even relatively modest weight loss, of around 5 to 10 percent of our body weight (for instance, roughly 10 pounds for a 14 stone person)?

Losing even small amounts of weight can boost health in more ways than one. “Research has shown that reducing total body weight by just 5 per cent can have substantial health benefits such as reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

While continued weight loss towards a healthy body weight should always be the end goal, these small milestones should be celebrated along the way for their positive impacts on health,” says Jodie Wood, Consultant Nutritionist, Motivation Weight Management.

But, regardless of your ultimate weight-loss goal, starting off with a small, manageable number is a clever strategy for staying motivated. Not only will it make sticking to your weight-loss plan easier, but you’ll also see some major health benefits from losing just 5 percent of your body weight — or roughly 10 pounds for a 14-stone person.