As a husband, it is only natural for you to want your wife to be as healthy as possible. If your wife has a body mass index of 25 to 29.9, she is considered overweight. If it is 30 or higher, she is considered obese, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Weight is a sensitive subject for some women. While it may be awkward to speak to her about losing weight, it is in her best interest for you to let her know that you are worried about her weight.
Step 1
Ask your wife if you can talk to her alone. Because weight and weight loss may be embarrassing to her, you don't want to talk about them in front of others.
Step 2
Tell her you love her and that you want her to be around for as long as possible. Be sure that you use a loving tone of voice and that you are sensitive to her feelings.
Step 3
Talk to her about her health. Being overweight or obese has health consequences including heart disease, type-2 diabetes, breathing trouble and strokes, according to WomensHealth.gov. Additionally, as she loses weight, she will experience an increase in energy--which makes her more able to do things she enjoys.
Step 4
Remember that if she is going to successfully lose weight, she has to want to lose weight. This isn't something that you can force on your wife. If she starts to get angry or distant when you bring up weight loss, she may not be ready to commit to losing weight and you should bring the subject up later unless her health is in immediate danger.
Step 5
Help her to set weight-loss goals. She should aim to lose 1 to 2 lbs. per week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Remind her that losing even 5 to 10 percent of her total body weight can help reduce these risks.
Step 6
Offer to follow a healthy eating program based on the food pyramid with her. This will show her that you are willing to support her while she is losing weight.
Step 7
Schedule times to exercise together. Ideally, your wife will need to exercise at least 60 to 90 minutes per day. You can help her to stay motivated if you exercise with her.
Step 8
Acknowledge that you understand the weight loss program will be difficult on her. Let her know that you will stand by her and will be available to talk or support her whenever she needs it.
Tips and Warnings
- Don't tell you wife that she isn't sexy to you--even if that is true. Making her feel unsexy may hinder her weight-loss program because she must have a positive attitude to successfully lose the weight.
- If your wife has any health problems or is severely overweight, ask her if she would like to speak with a nutritionist or a doctor about an appropriate weight-loss program.
References
- Womens Health: Overweight, Obesity and Weight Loss
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthy Weight--It's Not a Diet, It's a Lifestyle!
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Calculate Your BMI
- American College of Sports Medicine: Physical Activity Guidelines
- MyPyramid: Inside the Pyramid
Member Comments