Losing weight and obesity are hot topics in the world today. Some people have a warped idea of what the ideal figure should look like. Some don’t care at all and will ignore the science that sounds worrying or contradictory to their beliefs. Plenty more people are in the middle of those two extremes.
The scientific fact, however, is that being overweight – especially if you’re obese – is a dangerous thing. It puts you at elevated risk for so many more problems and disorders. Worse still, you may not even realize what you’re missing out on if you haven’t been at a healthy weight for a while.
But are any of these reasons excellent enough to justify undergoing the grueling, often discouraging, and exhausting effort it would take to work off those extra pounds? Well, why don’t you decide that for yourself? Here are nine ways that losing weight can improve the quality of your life.
1. Reduced Respiratory Trouble
The heavier you are, the higher you face the risk of developing asthma. There’s no universally agreed-upon reason for this, but most believe that this happens because most overweight individuals carry excess weight in their midsection. This placement of fat reduces the volume of the lungs, thus affecting respiratory function.
Asthmatic and obese, but want to get down to a healthier weight? Try simple exercises like racquet sports, volleyball, and gymnastics to be kind to your lungs. Remember, take into consideration that you should:
- Choose activities that require only short bursts of energy.
- Steer clear of activities that involve constant energy
- Keep the end goal in mind with positive thinking; the less you weigh, the easier it will be to exercise.
Just ten pounds of weight loss can make a significant difference in your life if you deal with respiratory problems like allergies, asthma, and more. Just don’t overwork yourself – slow and steady wins the race!
2. Reduced Migraine Occurrence
Migraines can be debilitating. They ruin productivity and rob you of positive thinking; in some cases, they can render you completely nonfunctional. If you’re overweight, shedding some extra pounds might change your migraines. Here are some studies that show their close link.
- “Migraine and Obesity: Epidemiology, Possible Mechanisms, and the Potential Role of Weight Loss Treatment” in Obesity Reviews (2011). This research paper found that migraines and obesity are closely linked, with different mechanisms adding the risk of the concurrence of these two problems.
- “Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention for Migraine: A Randomized Controlled Trial” in Obesity (2017). This study revealed that women who changed their diet and worked out to lose weight experienced migraines at a lower frequency and severity than before.
- “For migraine sufferers with obesity, losing weight can decrease headaches” published by The Endocrine Society (2019). This information was pulled from a meta-analysis of research that found that weight loss, whether by surgery or through lifestyle changes, would reduce intensity, length, and frequency of headaches.
3. Food Tastes Better
Yes, you read that correctly! Being overweight can lessen the sensitivity of your tastebuds, meaning you taste less of the food you eat. It’s a little ironic to think that your tongue may perceive tastes in a more positive way if you eat less, to begin with. Still, it’s something that researchers discovered when investigating body weight regulation and its links to obesity.
But why does this happen? Well, there’s no concrete answer just yet, but experts believe that it has to do with hormonal changes. It’s possible that the hormones released in excess when you’re overweight intercept or deafen communication between the receptors and the brain.
If you do lose that weight, then perhaps you may find that many foods you weren’t interested in before now taste delicious to you. Similarly, foods you used to love might become much too overwhelming in flavor for you to stomach.
4. Better Memory
Did you ever wish you could remember more? Well, studies indicate that losing weight could help you with that process. When you’re overweight, your brain can shrink in the temporal lobe – responsible for memory – leading to a worsened perception and things becoming all too easy to forget.
- “Improved Memory Function 12 Weeks after Bariatric Surgery” in Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases (2010). This study noted that bariatric surgery could help weight loss significantly and leave lower instances of inflammation that could harm the brain. Researchers had hopeful thoughts regarding the possibility of those losing weight through other means experiencing the same positive.
- “Weight loss improves memory and alters brain activity in overweight women,” published by the Endocrine Society (2013). This scientific article details some results from society’s tests and research. They discovered that women who lost weight through dieting over half a year had altered brain activity in certain areas of their brain, specifically the ones used for memory-related tasks.
- “Improved Memory Function Two Years After Bariatric Surgery” in Obesity (2013). This study found that those who underwent bariatric surgery and experienced a drop in BMI had lower levels of inflammation and insulin resistance, both of which researchers believed to play a large role in determining overall cognitive function and memory.
5. Reproductive Function
With obesity comes a lot of hormonal changes and difficulties. Conditions such as PCOS, which are not that rare in overweight women, affect fertility levels completely and make it difficult to conceive. Even obese women who opt for IVF are at risk of not particularly positive things, as they:
- Reduce your chance of carrying a baby to term, or have a higher risk of miscarriage
- Lower your chance of becoming pregnant via IVF methods
- Increase your risk of complications during a pregnancy
On top of that, studies have also found that obese women have a longer labor time when giving birth. This can be quite the problem and, though most mothers would agree that the extra time is more than worth it for bringing a beautiful child into the world, it’s still not very convenient. Added pain and a higher risk of complications make this a more anxiety-inducing researched fact.
6. Better Libido And Intimacy
Losing weight can lead to a higher libido and drive for bedroom fun. According to research, when weight is lost via bariatric surgery, many individuals have a stronger desire for intimacy than before. On top of that, this effect could occur for a prolonged period, even lasting for up to five years! This could be because of:
- Higher self-esteem
- Better stamina and feelings of satisfaction
- Reduced risk of erectile dysfunction due to better blood flow
7. Your Knees Will Hurt Less
Knee pain is common in overweight individuals. In fact, osteoarthritis is linked in numerous studies to obesity. Losing weight will help remove the strain off of those joints, leading to a lower risk of developing this wear-and-tear disorder. Here are some things about obesity and osteoarthritis that you need to know:
· Pressure
Those of healthy weight absorb approximately 1.5 pounds in their knees with each step they take. That’s already a significant amount, which is why some people of healthy weight still develop knee pain. If you’re overweight, you’re adding to the risk of joint misalignment and putting even more force on your knees.
· Inflammation
Fat is always releasing proteins that cause inflammation, sending your body into a state of chronic inflammation that affects many different aspects of your health. This inflammation can increase the risk of joints in developing osteoarthritis.
· Progression
For obese individuals, the progression of osteoarthritis can be much more drastic and severe. If you’re overweight, you are also more likely to require knee or hip surgeries, which could cause more complications.
8. Improved Positive Thinking
The Obesity Action Coalition conducted a study recently that uncovered how much of a positive thinking boost you can get from losing weight. Sometimes, when something is getting you down, the simple act of working on yourself can improve self-esteem, mood, and hormones like feel-good endorphins.
However, it’s worth noting that weight loss cannot cure depression. Some people like to tout depression around as something that will go away if you try hard enough, but that isn’t how it works. Still, weight loss can improve the presentation of some depressive symptoms. In some people with milder depression, it might be enough for them to feel sufficiently better!
9. You’re At Lower Risk For Life-Threatening Diseases
A lot of overweight or obese individuals face fears about their risks of contracting life-threatening illnesses. It’s a valid concern and not one to be taken lightly. Here are some of the diseases you will be less at risk for if you lose weight:
· Heart Disease
Excess weight puts a lot of undue strain on the heart, which has to pump more and harder to circulate blood properly throughout the body. Cardiovascular issues are so linked to obesity that countless studies have been written on the topic, almost all of which have reached a similar conclusion regarding heart strain due to added weight.
· Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
This term refers to any liver disease not caused – or at least, mostly not caused – by alcohol. Research has found all sorts of different diseases of this kind can be linked to obesity.
· Cancer
Believe it or not, obesity has been considered a risk factor for the development of cancer for a while. It is believed that pathogenic links are the reason behind the higher positive cancer testing among the overweight, with issues such as cell crosstalk, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and more triggering the growth of cancerous cells.
Final Thoughts On Some Ways Losing Weight Can Improve The Quality Of Your Life
Well, now you know just how much good weight loss can do for you. But losing weight is much easier said than done. Do not be too hard on yourself if it takes a while to get the ball rolling, and don’t feel guilty if you hit a rut; everyone does.
If you’re struggling to lose weight or aren’t sure if your weight is endangering your health, it is an excellent idea to talk to a doctor to hear their ideas on the subject in a medically informed, professional way.
As a final note, please try to lose weight for the right reasons. Wanting to appear more desirable to the person you’re attracted to isn’t the most effective motivational thought. Learn to love yourself and think of it like this: you love yourself enough to do difficult things to save your life. And that’s a beautiful, wonderful thing!
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