(1) Weight reduction is almost always successful in cases of essential hypertension if and when the weight loss is accompanied by a drastic sodium reduction. (2) Weight normalization is of remarkable help in complete reversal of abnormal glucose tolerance, decrease in insulin requirement in manifest diabetes mellitus, and – in many patients with mild diabetes – discontinuation of oral hypoglycemic agents. (3) Weight loss will occasionally relieve gout patients of their symptoms. The majority of hyperuricemic patients will benefit with a lowering of serum uric acid levels. (4) An unresolved issue is the influence of weight reduction on the cholesterol metabolism – short- and long-term results are by no means predictable. Whereas the triglycerides in obese patients almost always return to lower serum concentrations, and with them the hyperlipoproteinemias of type IIB, III and IV, the type IIA is only rarely seen in association with obesity. Therefore, information on this lipid abnormality is very limited regarding the effect of weight loss.