How Weight Loss Affects Your Overall Health

There are many reasons why being overweight is unhealthy. When a person is overweight, they are at higher risk for physical conditions like joint issues and for various related diseases. Furthermore, people who are overweight tend to have low self-esteem and other emotional struggles connected to their physical state.

If you are overweight, any way you look at it, it would be healthy for your overall health to lose weight. If you have decided to lose weight, it is important to understand how to lose that weight. It is vital to make lifestyle changes, and lose weight healthily rather than starting a crash diet or using weight loss supplements to accomplish the task.

As a general rule, when your body uses more calories than you consume, the result will be weight loss. To do this, simply eat healthy food, in moderate quantities and exercise regularly. Getting on a fitness plan, tracking your habits and keeping an eye on your goals will help you achieve a healthier you.

Some major health benefits associated with losing weight include:

1. Reduced risk of lifestyle diseases such as –
• High blood pressure caused by hypertension;
• Heart disease and conditions such as congestive heart failure, heart attacks and strokes are common occurrences among the overweight. This is mostly because when someone is overweight, there is a higher amount of fatty deposits within their blood stream. The presence of these deposits causes the predisposition making them more vulnerable to these health issues.


• High cholesterol levels within the blood stream can cause its own set of health conditions. For example, atherosclerosis is the narrowing of arteries caused by high cholesterol and angina which is when your muscles cannot receive enough blood – causing severe discomfort. High cholesterol levels also cause the about cardiovascular conditions (heart attack, stroke and heart disease).


• Sleep apnea is also common in people who are overweight. Sleep apnea is the condition when someone stops breathing in while sleeping; this condition along with the rest can be reduced or eliminated through weight loss.



2. Weight loss will increase your fitness level in a many ways—
• You will be able to move more quickly because there will be a smaller body to move around as opposed to the current, larger body mass.
• Through exercise, you will become stronger.
• You will be able to breathe more efficiently, helping your endurance. This occurs because as you lose weight, you’ll increase your lung capacity which will increase the oxygen intake you will be able to process.



3. A happier lifestyle will be achieved through a healthier body
• When you lose weight and become healthier, you will be able to participate in activities that you were not previously able to because of being overweight. For example, you’ll be able to keep up with your friends rather than getting winded and having to sit out.
• When you feel better about the way you look, your self-esteem and self-confidence will increase greatly. Having a positive self-image will help your relationships in your personal life and in your career.
• Through exercise and healthy eating, your energy levels will be higher making your day more pleasant to navigate through.

Transitioning to a Healthier You

If being overweight is negatively affecting your everyday quality of life while posing serious health threats, it’s time to get serious about losing weight. It is important to remember to lose weight the healthy way – do it right through diet and exercise. Commit to the process and seek professional help if you need it. Nutritionists will help shape a manageable diet while personal trainers will help keep you on track with your exercise routine and goals.

Remember, that if you are overweight, losing weight the right way will help improve your length and quality of life. Losing weight the healthy way is highly beneficial for your overall health.

This article was written specifically for Health and Fitness Magazine by the Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic. The clinic has been helping patients find a way to a healthier life since 1953.