Globally, the prevalence of obesity and overweight has been
on a steady rise in the last few decades. Arguably, this ugly trend has been
largely due to sedentary lifestyles as well as unhealthful dietary habits that
many of us now indulge. Fast foods are fast replacing our natural fresh,
nutrient-rich diets while the advent of computers/internet and automobiles
courtesy of modern technology would make us sit all day with little or no room
for exercise. However, it is worthy of mention that obesity and overweight pose
significant risks to our health as they are associated with myriads of
life-threatening disease conditions including hypertension, type 2 diabetes,
cancers and coronary artery disease just to mention a few. Furthermore, recent
estimates have shown that about 250 million people worldwide are obese while
over 500 million more people are probably overweight. According to the American
Journal of Public Health, about 27% of deaths among overweight or obese women
are associated with obesity. In the contrary, the benefits of healthy weight
loss cannot be overemphasized. A modest weight loss of 5-10% has been
associated with a considerable reduction in the entire risk profile of obesity.
In view of the above, here are some potential benefits you
will derive from burning some fat and staying fit:
Decreased Risk of Cardiovascular Problems
Fortunately, a modest weight loss of 5-10% has been
positively correlated with a significant reduction in the risk of
cardiovascular events like hypertension, heart attack, stroke and
obesity-associated cardiomyopathies. Studies have shown that overweight and
obesity account for about 25-30% of the cases of hypertension and that a
reduction of 5mmHg in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures can be
achieved by simply losing 5-10% of body weight. In the same vein, a modest
weight loss helps to normalize your cholesterol levels by increasing the level
of HDL (good cholesterol) and decreasing the level of LDL and triglycerides
(bad cholesterol). These effects have been shown to protect the heart. From the
foregoing, it is obvious that you need to start considering shedding some
weight in order to cut down your risk of suffering from a cardiovascular
condition since they are better prevented than managed.
Decreased Risk of Diabetes
Excessive weight is an important risk factor for developing
type 2 diabetes. This is because accumulated fat renders body tissues resistant
to the actions of insulin, a phenomenon aptly described as insulin resistance.
As a result, glucose levels rise in the blood and it cannot be utilized by the
body cells and tissues. However, studies have shown that obese individuals
significantly lessen their risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus when
they lose up to 5-10% of their body weight. Similarly, it was discovered that
those who already had type 2 diabetes had better glycaemic control with medications
after losing some weight.
Decreased Risk of Cancers
Obesity has been associated with different kinds of cancers
especially endometrial, breast, prostate, oesophageal, colon and gallbladder
cancers among others. A study revealed that in 2007, about 34000 new cases of
cancer and 50500 new cases recorded among men and women respectively in the
United States were attributable to obesity. Understandably, a reduction in
weight has been associated with decreased incidence of these cancers. For
instance, a research analysis found that if every adult would reduce their Body
Mass Index by 1%, about 100000 new cases of cancer would have been averted.
Less Respiratory Problems
Weight loss has the benefit of reducing your risk of
respiratory conditions like Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, bronchial asthma and
respiratory infections which are more common among obese individuals. A study
revealed that a modest weight loss of 10% improved sleep patterns and reduced
daytime somnolence among people suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnoea.
Less Osteoarthritis and Back Pain
Increased incidence of osteoarthritis and chronic low back
pain has been observed among obese individuals. A study noted that especially
among obese black and Hispanic women, osteoarthritis of the knee resulted in a
substantial reduction of quality-adjusted life years. Fortunately, it has been
shown that when you shed some weight, your risk of osteoarthritis and chronic
low back pain is significantly reduced.
Less Risk of Reproductive Problems
Reproductive problems such as infertility, erectile
dysfunction, foetal macrosomia (big baby) and stillbirth have been observed to
be more common among obese individuals than their counterparts with normal
weight. Obesity may lead to derangements in the female reproductive hormones
which can impair a woman's fertility. Furthermore, fat cells produce substances
that lead to inflammation and plaque buildup within blood vessels, a process
known as atherosclerosis. This may block the blood vessels supplying the penis
and lead to erectile dysfunction that may also result in male-factor
infertility.
As a seasoned medical practitioner and medical writer at
nigerianbulletin.com with vast experience in the medical field, your health and
fitness is my priority. Feel free to check out our rich hub of health-related
articles at http://www.nigerianbulletin.com/forums/health-living.282/ Here
you can have free unlimited access to diverse articles that will be of
tremendous help to you. You may also contact me through mail atwalerosuccess136@gmail.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9052996
0 Response to "6 Proven Benefits of Weight Loss"
Posting Komentar