What's So Great About Losing Weight? (Besides Looking Better?)

If you ask your heart, back, or joints, the most important reason to lose weight is for your health, not your looks. Here are some things to consider....

Heart Disease
The heavier you are, the harder your heart has to work. Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease, the pathway for heart attacks. In addition, the heart disease risk factors of high blood pressure and cholesterol are more common in people who are overweight. Those same risk factors also increase your risk of stroke. Even a 10% decrease in weight reduces the risk of coronary heart disease by 20% in men. When your heart is healthy then every part of you works better.

Diabetes
Consider this scary fact: Gaining just 11-18 pounds doubles your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Over 80% of people with diabetes are overweight or obese. Even modest amounts of weight loss -about ten pounds- combined with increased activity reduces your risk for diabetes and improves blood sugar if you have diabetes. If you do have diabetes, losing small amounts of weight also can reduce the amount of medication you need to regulate your blood sugar levels. Overall, managing your weight is the best thing you can do to prevent the development of diabetes.

Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people visit their doctor. The biggest risk factor for back pain is carrying excess weight. The more out of shape you are and the heavier you are, the more stress you put on your back. One of the best things that you can do to prevent and eliminate back pain is to lose weight and strengthen your abdominal and back muscles.

Arthritis
For every two pounds you gain, your risk of developing arthritis increases 9-13 percent. Patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of more than 25 are more likely to develop osteoarthritis than those with a lower BMI. Your knees and hips especially take the brunt of excess wieght and will thank you for losing even 10 pounds.

Cancer
Yes, weight even affects cancer risk. Being overweight and obese can increase your risk for cancers such as colon, gall bladder, prostate, kidney, endometrial, cervical, ovarian and postmenopausal breast cancers. In fact, obesity and being overwieght is clearly associated with doubling the risk of kidney cancer in men and women.

In addition to the 'biggies' mentioned here, being overweight can also cause a host of other problems including sleep apnea, fatigue, breathlessness, sleeplessness, varicose veins. Obviously, being overweight is anything but jolly. That's why today is the day for you to start losing weight and getting healthier. Contact me and I will show you how.