What are the health benefits of losing weight?

The benefits of weight loss are many. Losing just 10 percent of your body weight can lower the risk of developing gallstones and having gallbladder disease. Weight loss reduces the risk of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that causes you to stop breathing many times during sleep—and you are unaware of it. It also reduces the chance of congestive heart failure as being overweight or obese increases the stress placed on your heart and lungs.

There are studies showing weight loss may reduce the chance of some cancers. In addition, eating a diet high in healing antioxidants from fresh fruits and vegetables and fiber from whole grains helps protect against some cancers.

Losing weight will let you be more active. If you suffer with back or knee pain, weight loss puts less pressure on your bones and joints. 

Weight loss can also lower blood pressure and the risk of heart disease, heart attacks and stroke. Losing weight will help you control your blood sugar if you have diabetes. If you don’t have diabetes, weight loss can help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

Let’s face the facts – we all know that losing weight makes us healthier.  In fact, losing weight trumps everything else, even if you are “trying” to be healthy but still carrying that extra 10, 20 or 30 pounds around.  The bottom line is that being overweight is not healthy.  Here are some of the benefits to dropping the pounds and the inches:

1.  Lower risk for heart disease
2.  Extend your life span
3.  Lower bad cholesterol
4.  Reduces disease risk
5.  Lower risk for certain types of cancer
6.  Relieves aching joints

Losing weight can also benefits parts of your life that you didn’t expect:

- Improve your self esteem
- Increase your desire to exercise
- Increase your happiness

Now is the time to make the choice to lose those extra 10, 20 or 30 pounds, for you, your health, your family and your future!