Losing weight can improve your physical and mental health and wellbeing in various ways, there is no denying that. And in most cases, this in combination with more superficial but still very significant reasons such as wanting to look good in a swimsuit on the beach, is likely to be the prime reason you decide to shed some Kilos.
But what I wanted to specifically achieve with this post is to highlight the specific benefits of weight loss and how losing weight can specifically change (or save) your life.
My Grandmother Lily and I.
I suppose now is a good paragraph to mention that this is a bit of a personal post that stems from my own experiences, or the experience of another that I witnessed when I was a child. Whilst I was still at a very young age, my grandmother who lived with us and depended on my family’s care and support passed away whilst suffering from Type 2 diabetes and as a consequence of the disease, she had also lost her sight. She had to have multiple injections every day and at such a young age, this was pretty scary for me. And not that I knew/ understood at the time the causes of such a disease, but in hindsight, knowing that she was overweight I now know that this was one of the major causes of her illness.
In the end though, it wasn’t the diabetes but a heart attack which lead my grandmother to pass away at the age of 68. This being another condition which obesity puts you at a high risk of. I also know that she was bed ridden so I can only assume she also suffered from an arthritic condition which meant moving put her in pain.
And so, it was only after writing the list below that I compiled to remind you of the importance of keeping your weight (and health) in check in the hopes that it will further fuel or rekindle your motivation to lose weight, did I realise that nearly all applied to someone that was very close to me.
So now, I present to you my four top reasons as to why I think weight matters.
1.Physical mobility
If light walks or climbing stairs seem to exert more effort than you think they should, losing weight could greatly improve your endurance or stamina so that your less likely to feel tired after these simple activities. Naturally, being heavier also puts more stress on your joints. Therefore, losing weight will relieve pain from your ankles and knees which will decrease your chances of contracting arthritis pain as it is a condition that can commonly be directly linked to weight gain. This is something you should especially consider as you get older.
2. Prevent serious disease and illness
Due to conditions such as high blood pressure and cholesterol that are associated with weight gain, those who are overweight are at a much greater risk of heart disease. Also, the more fat tissue you have, the higher chance your body has of becoming resistant to insulin leading to the development of Type 2 diabetes, which may lead to further health complications relating to sight and nerve damage.
3.Improve mood and decrease the risk of depression
Specific hormones are directly linked to digestion and the metabolic process and play a huge role in weight gain and weight loss. Consequently, they are also linked to your mood. On the other hand, it is no secret that being overweight can lead to issues associated with poor body image, low self-esteem and a degree of social isolation, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and being discriminated against in society which are contributing factors of depression.
4. You could live longer
If you knew eating better could add a couple of years to your life, enough to watch your kids grow and meet your grandchildren… Of course having a crack at eating a bit healthier will be worth it! Also, regardless of your size, life is what you make of it but weight loss may be able to improve your overall quality of life too. Aside from what has already been discussed above, losing weight can be beneficial to your relationships as well as you’ll have more confidence, and a better outlook on life and the others around you which will reflect positively on the way you act and feel.
Just remember, it’s never to late to change your life because even taking small steps now to a healthier lifestyle can prevent and reverse symptoms of certain illnesses. You should also keep in mind how proud you’ll make those who are closest to you feel and you could even be someone else’s inspiration to get their own health on track too.
