Weight Loss Benefits – Health
There is a strong relationship between your personal sense of involvement and investment in weight loss, and the potential for succeeding on your weight loss program. One way to increase your sense of investment here is to learn how dropping excess weight will reduce your risk of developing some health problems. To get you started, here are just a few ways that losing weight will benefit your health:
Lower your cholesterol levels – Very high blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats) can lead to heart disease and are linked to being overweight. You can improve your heart function and your levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides by losing weight.
Reduce your blood pressure – High blood pressure is a major risk factor for both heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is twice as common in adults who are obese than in those who maintain a healthy weight.
Decrease risk of gout – Gout is a joint disease caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. This painful disease is more common among people who are overweight.
Reduce osteoarthritis – Excess weight is hard on the bones. For every increase of 2 pounds in your weight, the risk for developing arthritis increases by 9 to 13 percent. This is joint disorders that affects the joints in your knees, hips and lower back. Extra weight increases the risk of this disease because there is more pressure on these joints. Weight loss can decrease the stress and improve symptoms of osteoarthritis
Improve your breathing – Sleep apnea is a serious condition associated with being overweight. It can cause you to stop breathing for short periods and to snore heavily. Sleep apnea can make you sleepy in the daytime and cause heart failure. Losing weight can reduce or eliminate this problem.
Decrease your risk of sudden death from heart disease or stroke – The risk for heart disease, which includes heart attack, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina, and abnormal heart rhythm, is higher in individuals who are overweight or obese. Reducing your weight by 5 to 10 percent can decrease your chance of developing heart disease or having a stroke.
Help prevent Type 2 diabetes – There is a direct link between overweight and diabetes. More than 80 percent of people with diabetes are overweight or obese. A weight gain of 11 to 18 pounds increases the risk for developing type 2 diabetes to twice that of those who maintain a healthy weight. Recent research shows that a 5 to 7 percent weight loss can prevent type 2 diabetes in people who are at high risk for the disease.
If you already have the disease, losing weight and getting exercise can help you control your blood sugar levels, and it may even reduce the amount of medication that you need.
Reduce Your Risk of Some Kinds of Cancer – There are several kinds of cancer associated with being overweight. In women, these include cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast and colon. Overweight men are at greater risk for developing cancer of the colon, rectum and prostate.
There’s More – Excess weight is associated with increased risk for gallbladder disease, incontinence, and increased surgical risk. Also premenopausal women who are overweight can experience irregular menstrual cycles and infertility. Extra pounds can cause complications during pregnancy too. Obesity during pregnancy is associated with increased risk for death in both the baby and the mother, and increases the risk of high blood pressure. Women who are obese during pregnancy also are more likely to have gestational diabetes and experience problems with labor and delivery.
In general, the more overweight you are the more likely you are to have health problems. Just losing 10% of your current weight can make a difference in the way you feel on a daily basis.
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