i am overweight i am 292lbs and male 5'4 do i realy need to lose weight

i have a friend who just had the sleeve gastric surgery. my question is,do i really need to lose weight if i feel great,have no symptoms of hp,sleep apnia,shortness of breath.i walk 2 to 3 miles 3 to 4 times a week and do 40 situps a day25 to 30 push ups. so what is all hype about me being overweight...i would like to get some real men response...thnx

I don't think science can tell you if you do or don't need to do something about your weight. but as far as the stats you've provided, I'm curious to know your current bloodwork numbers and some other vitals.  I.e How's the cholestrol? blood sugar levels? etc... Height and Weight is not really a good determinate.  You could be a body builder for all I know =) It's great you feel great now.  But could you feel better?  Maybe what you consider "great" now is only mediocre in another world? :D Whether or not to pursue any form of weight loss is something every individual has to choose and determine for themselves. 

You may question your need to lose weight now, but how wil you feel in 5-10 years?  Yes, you are overweight.  I don't know if you'd even qualify for WLS since you generally need to be 100 lbs overweight plus have comorbidities.  Just the fact that you have posted here indicates that you are questioning your physique.  Or, your wife or other family members are pressuring you into taking better care of yourself.  If you are young, you may be able to change your life around.  Have you tried dieting?  You sound like you don't think there's anything wrong with being overweight.  I'm sure you are aware that, eventually, being overweight will be adverse towards your health.  You just don't see many obese elderly people.

You didn't mention joint pain - none of that?  You also didn't mention your age.  Your skin is stretched out now.  If you're young, it will probably shrink if you lose weight.  As you age, it just sags when you lose weight.  You might be ok now, but remember you're aging.  I don't know if you need WLS, but I'm sure most doctors (I'm not one) would tell you to lose weight for health reasons.  Good luck whatever you do, Casper. 

It depends- What was the result of your last physical?

According to Thomas A. Owens, M.D. (Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC), body fat percentage is categorized as follows:

Description	Women	Men
Recommended amount	20-25%	8–14%
Adults in United States, average	22-25%	15–19%
Obese	30%+	25%+

According to Health Check Systems, The American Council on Exercise has categorized ranges of body fat percentages as follows:

Description	Women	Men
Essential fat	12–15%	2–5%
Athletes	16–20%	6–13%
Fitness	21–24%	14–17%
Acceptable	25–31%	18–25%
Obese	32%+	25%+

Are you a small waisted, muscle-bound dude that just happens to have a 50.1BMI?  Body fat? You may be the exception to the rule, some are. How's your running ability? 2 miles? 5? Triglyceride levels? Check with your doc. What was the result of your last physical? That should give you the real answer. Some "Ex-Fat-Dudes" here will have little more than speculation to offer. Just my thoughts.... Best Wishes- Dx

> Additionally, if you are going by a height of 5'4" > because that is how tall you have always been > and that initial measurement was from when > you were not as heavy as you are now, when you > carry excess weight, the spine compresses. So true!  I always thought I was 5'5 1/2" (and don't forget the half inch!)  I just about had a heart attack when they measured my height at my first consult and I found out that I was 5'3" !!!  Do you have any idea what losing 2.5 inches of height does to your BMI, especially when you're already in hobbit territory? I've still waiting for my spine to completely uncompress; I might have regained 1/2 an inch so far, but I still have a ways to go (maybe 75 additional pounds to lose). /Steve

Hello my texas brother...welcome you have had some really straight shooters answer you already... Hope to meet you some time...since we are in the same state...so since I have not met you I will talk about me and my family.... my sis "was" 323# and 5'3",and she could do physical stuff all  day long..she has a candle factory, and she would load and unload heavy boxes, and tables, and work 12 hours on her feet, and load backup the truck, and then do it again tomorrow.... I just thought I was a *****there is no way I could keep up with her...even today, I can toss up weights in the gym for hours,,,but I could not keep up with her... then I realized she was proving to the world, that she did not have a weight problem....she could and did out work everyone around her...she was compensating... When she turned that laser beam of attention to her health...she busted out all expectations...all of that energy, with a healthy life style...she is rocking... so you may be compensating...with all the activity...but boy...if you can do all that now...you will be a superstar if you lost 100#

As with everything else in life, it is your call. Only you know your true physical and health status. Ben

Interesting that you didn't say that you want to lose weight or that somebody told you that you should lose weight.  Do what you want to do!  Nothing will work if you don't start there.