We all know the impact that being overweight can have on our emotional wellbeing, but the fact is that carrying extra pounds also increases the risk of serious health issues such as metabolic syndrome.
This is a group of conditions - including high blood pressure, glucose intolerance and raised cholesterol - that increase your chances of developing cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes and liver disease.
However, scientists in the US have good news for those at high risk, as it seems stone fruits such as peaches, plums and nectarines could help.
According to investigators at Texas AgriLife Research, these fruits contain bioactive compounds that can help to fight off diabetes and cardiovascular disease in people who are overweight.
The team discovered that certain compounds in stone fruits demonstrated anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties when applied to cell samples in the lab.
In addition, their research suggests that the compounds may help to reduce the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL or 'bad cholesterol'), which is linked to cardiovascular disease.
Dr Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, a food scientist at AgriLife Research, revealed that these bioactive compounds - including anthocyanins, clorogenic acids, quercetin derivatives and catechins - work simultaneously against obesity, inflammation, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
He said: "In recent years obesity has become a major concern in society due to the health problems associated to it.
"Each of these stone fruits contains similar phenolic groups but in differing proportions, so all of them are a good source of health-promoting compounds and may complement each other."
The findings are due to be presented at a forthcoming meeting of the American Chemical Society and indicate that tucking into a juicy peach or plum could be even better for your health than you realised!
