What Your Weight Loss Can Do
The benefits of weight loss are profound. Here
are several examples of how losing just a few pounds can alter
your risks:
Heart disease and hypertension
The risk for heart disease, which includes heart
attack, congestive heart failure, sudden cardiac death, angina,
and abnormal heart rhythm, is higher in individuals who are
overweight or obese. In addition, high blood pressure, or
hypertension, is twice as common in adults who are obese than
in those who maintain a healthy weight. Obesity also is associated
with elevated triglycerides (blood fat) and decreased HDL
cholesterol, also known as "good" cholesterol. Losing
just 5 to 15 percent of your weight can lower your chances
for developing heart disease or having a stroke. Weight loss
also improves blood pressure, as well as triglyceride and
cholesterol levels.
Diabetes
A weight gain of 11 to 18 pounds increases the risk
for developing type 2 diabetes to twice that of those who
maintain a healthy weight. There is a direct link between
overweight and diabetes: More than 80 percent of people with
diabetes are overweight or obese. You can lower your risk
for developing type 2 diabetes by losing weight and increasing
your physical activity. Recent research shows that a 5 to
7 percent weight loss can prevent type 2 diabetes in people
who are at high risk for the disease.
Cancer
Research shows that overweight and obesity are associated
with an increased risk for some types of cancer. These including
endometrial, colon, gallbladder, prostrate, kidney, and postmenopausal
breast cancers. Also, women who gain more than 20 pounds between
age 18 and midlife double their risk of postmenopausal breast
cancer, compared to women who do not gain weight. Maintaining
a healthy weight may decrease cancer risk.
Sleep apnea
This disorder, which causes interrupted breathing
during sleep, is more common in obese persons. Studies show
that weight loss improves symptoms of sleep apnea.
Arthritis
Excess weight is hard on the bones. For every 2-pound increase
in your weight, the risk for developing arthritis increases
by 9 to 13 percent. Symptoms of arthritis improve with weight
loss. If you think you've heard enough, there's more: Excess
weight is associated with increased risk for gallbladder disease,
incontinence, and increased surgical risk. Also pre- menopausal
women who are overweight can experience irregular menstrual
cycles and infertility. Extra pounds can cause complications
during pregnancy, too. Obesity during pregnancy is associated
with increased risk for death in both the baby and the mother
and increases the risk of high blood pressure. Women who are
obese during pregnancy also are more likely to have gestational
diabetes and experience problems with labour and delivery.
Finally, obesity affects quality of life as well. Excess weight
can lead to depression and anxiety. In general, the more overweight
you are the more likely you are to have health problems. Even
modest weight loss of 5 or 10 pounds can greatly lower your
risk factors.
