Guest Post: How Weight Loss Aids in Disease Prevention and Management
Weight loss
is one of the most common health concerns in the United States. While many
efforts have been made to educate the public about the dangers of obesity, many
Americans of all ages are still overweight. Increased calorie consumption
combined with a sedentary (sit-down) lifestyle are among the biggest factors.
We all want to reach our ideal weight so we can look good and feel good.
The
problem is that many people focus more on the aesthetics of weight loss
results, which can ultimately set them up for failure. It takes a great deal of
work to lose weight, and looks should not be the sole focus. What can help,
however, is learning how weight loss can help prevent and manage chronic
diseases. This type of motivation can help you learn to make healthy
choices on a regular
basis that will help you manage your weight for life.
How Excess Weight Causes Disease
Being
overweight causes more problems beyond being able to fit into your skinny
jeans. Having excess weight over a long period of time puts a great deal of
stress on the body. This includes your heart, bones, Among the most common
types of weight-induced chronic illnesses include:
·
heart
disease
·
cancer
(particularly of the breast, colon, gallbladder, and pancreas)
·
osteoarthritis
·
high
blood pressure (hypertension)
·
high
cholesterol
·
stroke
Obesity: Is it a Disease?
According to
the American Heart Association, about 78 million American adults are
considered obese. This means that such adults are ranked on the body mass index
(BMI) chart of 30 or more. At this point, action and treatment are both
necessary to produce weight loss effects.
Part of the issue with obesity is
that it many people perceive it as a body condition, rather than a disease.
Health experts are looking to change this perception so that issues of being
overweight are taken more seriously. In fact, the American Heart Association classifies
obesity as its own disease. This is due to the fact that having an excessive
amount of body fat produces health issues, including heart disease.
It’s important
to have a doctor that takes your weight loss goals seriously. If you fall
within the range of obesity, losing weight can prevent the onset of related
chronic illnesses. You may also be treated for any other existing chronic
diseases at the same time.
Losing Weight Leads to Better Health
Overweight
and obesity increases the risk for disease and health complications, so it
makes sense that losing weight can create the opposite effects. Being mindful
of your weight early in life is essential to overall disease prevention.
Once
you have a chronic disease, it can be difficult to reverse it. However, this
doesn’t mean weight loss won’t help. In fact, losing weight can actually make
many diseases more manageable.
Another aspect to consider are the features of
weight loss—a nutritious diet and exercise ultimately make your body stronger,
creating a disease-fighting powerhouse. By losing weight, you may decrease the
following risk factors that aggravate and lead to chronic diseases. You might
experience:
·
lower
levels of insulin
·
less
body inflammation (swelling)
·
lower
levels of cancer-related hormones (such as estrogen)
·
increased
ability to fight tumors
·
lower
cholesterol and blood pressure
·
less
painful joints
·
better
ability to sleep through the night
Deciding How Much Weight to Lose
While
embarking on a weight loss plan, you will likely run into the term “ideal
weight.” An ideal weight is one which is best for you and your body type, so
this number will vary greatly between adults. Determining the right amount of
weight to lose is something you should establish early on with your doctor.
A
large goal can be disheartening because you want to reap the benefits of a low
body mass right away. Before you get discouraged, it’s important to know that
even a small amount may help. In fact, the Obesity Action Coalition reports that just a 5 to 10-percent
weight loss can reap numerous health benefits, even for adults with chronic
illnesses. Such a seemingly small percentage can immediately lower:
·
blood
pressure
·
cholesterol
·
inflammation
·
insulin
resistance
The key to
losing weight for your health is to simply get going. It may be a struggle in
the beginning, but losing even a small amount of weight will translate to
significant benefits for your overall health.
Resources
· Obesity
and Cancer Risk. (2012, January 3). Retrieved from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/obesity
· Pietrzykowska,
Nadia B. (2014). Benefits of 5-10 Percent Weight Loss. Retrieved from http://www.obesityaction.org/educational-resources/resource-articles-2/general-articles/benefits-of-5-10-percent-weight-loss
· Treating
Obesity as a Disease. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/WeightManagement/Obesity/Treating-Obesity-as-a-Disease_UCM_459557_Article.jsp
· Weight
Loss for Life. (2009, January). Retrieved from http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/PDFs/WeightLossforLife_04.pdf
Author Bio:
Kristeen Cherney is a freelance health and lifestyle writer who also has a
certificate in nutrition. Her work has been published on numerous
health-related websites. Previously, she worked as a communications and
marketing professional. Kristeen holds a BA in Communication from Florida Gulf
Coast University, and is currently pursuing an MA in English with a
concentration in rhetoric and cultural studies. When she's not writing or
studying, she enjoys walking, kick-boxing, yoga, and traveling.
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