If you are overweight or obese, you may wonder how losing weight could benefit you. The extra weight takes a physical and mental toll on your body. Losing those pounds can make your life longer, reduce your risks for several diseases and enable you to do activities you enjoy. Losing weight can also have financial benefits. Discuss the advantages of losing weight with your doctor, and get his approval before beginning any weight-loss program.
Determining If You Are Overweight
There are several advantages to losing weight if you are actually overweight or obese. To figure out if you are overweight or obese, calculate your body mass index using one of two online calculators available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If your BMI is between 25 and 29.9, you are considered overweight. If your BMI is over 30, you are considered obese. If you are overweight or obese, you should take steps to reduce your weight.
Being Overweight Puts You at Risk for Disease
If you are overweight or obese, your risk for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, gallbladder disease, high cholesterol, osteoarthritis and depression increases. If you are obese, your risk for coronary heart disease increases. Coronary heart disease is a risk factor for having a heart attack and occurs when the small blood vessels that bring blood and oxygen to the heart narrow due to fatty buildup. Each of these health problems is very serious and can shorten your life or make it difficult to do activities that you enjoy. However, some of these conditions can be prevented if you take steps to lose weight now.
Physical Benefits of Losing Weight
A systematic review of research published in 2004 in the journal "Health Technology Assessment" found that losing weight is associated with better health. Overall, if you are obese, losing weight will likely make your life longer. Losing weight will also reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and will likely reduce your cholesterol and blood pressure. If you lose weight, you may also have less pain, and it may be easier to do physical activities.
Mental Health Benefits of Losing Weight
Losing weight may also be beneficial to your mood. A review published in 2011 in the "International Journal of Obesity" found that people with obesity experienced less depression as a result of taking part in a weight-loss program.
Financial Benefits of Losing Weight
There are a number of financial benefits to losing weight. If you are overweight or obese, you may spend a lot of money on health care and medicines. If you lose weight, you may be able to reduce doctors' visits, laboratory tests, medicines and hospitalizations. For example, research published in the journal "Current Clinical Pharmacology" found significant weight loss was associated with taking fewer medicines and with spending less money on prescriptions.
References
- "Current Clinical Pharmacology"; Reductions in Medications With Substantial Weight Loss With Behavioral Intervention; J.W. Anderson and M.A. Jhaveri; 2010
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Body Mass Index; Feb. 15, 2011
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; The Disease Burden Associated With Overweight and Obesity; Aviva Must, et al., 1999
- "Health Technology Assessment"; Systematic Review of the Long-Term Effects and Economic Consequences of Treatments for Obesity and Implications for Health Improvement; A. Avenell, et al.; 2004
- "Obesity"; Intensive Lifestyle Intervention Improves Physical Function Among Obese Adults With Knee Pain: Findings From the Look AHEAD Trial; C. G. Foy, et al.; 2011
- "International Journal of Obesity"; Intentional Weight Loss and Changes in Symptoms of Depression: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"; Anthony N. Fabricatore, et al.; 2011
Member Comments