Why Lose Weight?
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009With 2/3 of adults in the United States being over weight, it has become a serious problem and too often overlooked. This post will help outline a few Pro’s and Con’s of Why you should Lose Weight or at least keep it off!
First, there are countless problems that can arise out of having too much fat on the body. The rise in many serious health conditions can be directly attributed to being overweight.
Some of these health conditions are:
1. Diabetes- Type 2 diabetes and obesity have been intimately connected. More than 85% of people that have type 2 diabetes, are also overweight. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body can no longer respond correctly to a hormone released by the pancreas, known as insulin.
2. Heart Disease- Obesity is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke.Your risk for having a heart attack or stroke increases 20% when you are obese.
3. Gallstones- People who have a problem with obesity are more likely to develop gallstones, than people who are at their proper weight. In women, this risk is even greater.
4. Osteoarthritis- People who are obese put added weight on their joints, increasing their chances of developing osteoarthritis.
Now that we know a few negative things that can happen as a result of being overweight, let’s look at the benefits of losing weight:
1. Increased energy levels- This is especially true when people start to exercise as part of a healthy diet plan.
2. Cholesterol levels are lower- High LDL cholesterol is a leading cause of heart attack, so it is important to get this number as low as possible.
3. Lower blood pressure- High blood pressure can cause heart attack and stroke, so lowering this is great for your body.
4. Less pains and aches- Many people who are obese often experience painful and swollen joints, due to the pressure from the excess weight. These pains and aches are common in the back, hips and knee’s. Losing weight can help take this pressure off, resulting is less pain.
5. Improved breathing- many people who are overweight have problems breathing due to the excess fat in the body, restricting the natural movement of the lungs. Losing weight enables you to breathe easier.
6. Sleep better, and feel more alert during the day- Often people who are obese have difficulty sleeping, and many have a condition called Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea is basically when you stop breathing several times during the night due to airway obstructions. Sometimes, this is caused by a layer of fat around the neck, which chokes off the trachea during sleep.
7. Less chance of developing type 2 diabetes- People who are their ideal weight, have a much lower chance of developing type 2 diabetes.








