Why is Weight Loss Important?
Whether your goal is to lose 10 or 50 pounds, the weight loss journey can be tough. It is even more upsetting if you have tried losing weight before and fell short of your goal. If you have been trying to lose weight without seeing good or motivating results, Fairfax weight loss counseling may be what you need. It involves working with a specialist to determine emotional and mental factors that may impact your weight management. Incorporating weight loss counseling into your weight loss programs gives you the best results. But first, this is why you should shed those extra pounds.
It helps regulate blood sugar.
Excess body fat causes an increase in adipose tissue; this leads to inflammation which interferes with the function of insulin – the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. When you lose extra weight, a reduction of adipose tissue occurs, allowing your body to manage blood sugar more effectively. Weight loss increases your cells’ sensitivity to insulin, reducing blood sugar levels. The good news is that you don’t lose much weight to see the results. Even a 5% reduction in body weight may improve blood sugar levels in adults.
Decreased risk of stroke
Being overweight can increase your blood pressure and put you at risk of stroke. High blood pressure strains your blood vessels, making them stiffer and more likely to cause clots. But losing weight can help improve the heart’s efficiency due to less constricted blood vessels.
Better sleep
You are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea if you are overweight because of fat deposits along your throat. Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by disrupted breathing throughout the night and snoring most of the time. You may also experience other symptoms, such as morning headaches, excessive daytime sleepiness, sore throat, and fatigue after a full night’s sleep.
If you suffer from sleep apnea and are obese, losing weight may help reduce the severity of your symptoms. However, weight loss might not work for everyone since even sleep apnea also affects thin people.
Improved heart health
Excess body weight may affect your blood vessels, causing your heart to work extra hard to pump blood throughout the body. But when you lose weight, you reduce the pressure on arteries. Weight loss also decreases the density of lipoprotein cholesterol levels – the bad cholesterol that elevates your risk of heart disease. Whether you lose weight through exercise, diet, or weight loss surgery, you will enjoy the benefits.
Higher self-confidence
There is no direct correlation between weight loss and self-esteem, but losing extra weight can improve your mood and confidence. After successful weight loss, many people report improvements in their self-worth, body image, and general well-being.
Decreased joint pain
Being overweight puts excess pressure on your joints, especially your hips and knees. As such, the smooth surface at the end of the bones (cartilage) wears down, allowing friction between bones. The wearing out of joint cartilage is osteoarthritis disease, common in older adults. However, people with excess weight may develop knee osteoarthritis earlier in life.
If you need help losing weight, schedule an appointment with your specialist at Nova Physician Wellness Center.