According to the CDC, more than 40% of Americans aged 20 and above are obese and overweight. Many people are overweight or obese due to eating unhealthy diets, stress, sleep deprivation, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle. You may find yourself among the millions of people seeking medical weight loss every year when you are overweight. Moreover, you risk various chronic health issues without medically supervised weight control and management by Dr. Monika T Vansant and her team. A specialist weight management plan may involve healthy eating, physical activity, healthy lifestyle choices, and prescription medications.
Consequently, below are the benefits you may get from maintaining a healthy weight.
- Maintains healthy blood sugar level
When you have extra weight around the waist, that can lead to the accumulation of fat around your vital organs, such as the liver and pancreas. Excess body fat increases adipose tissue, a connective tissue extending throughout your body. As a result, swelling and interference with the pancreas and insulin function lead to insulin resistance. Your pancreas may make adequate insulin, but the body cannot use it properly. Insulin is a vital hormone for regulating blood sugar levels.
- Improves heart health
Various scientific and clinical studies show that even a small weight loss can improve metabolic function and ease the pressure on blood vessels that distribute oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. The enhanced metabolic process of the body can help reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Thus, your heart and blood vessels do not have to work harder to pump and transport blood. As a result, maintaining a healthy blood pressure can significantly improve your heart health and avoid heart diseases and conditions such as unstable angina, heart attack, heart failure, valve disease, high blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms.
- Better sleep
Sleep experts recommend that adults sleep for more than seven hours every night. Research links sleep deprivation to greater body fat, higher risk of obesity, and inability to lose weight faster. When you do not get enough quality sleep, there is an increase in the production of leptin and ghrelin hormones. Ghrelin, also referred to as a hunger hormone, is associated with the feeling of hunger, while leptin can decrease your appetite by making you feel fuller.
According to a study done by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and other clinical studies, losing weight, especially around your stomach, can significantly improve your sleep quality. Since there are fewer fat deposits around your neck, you will not experience breathing problems associated with sleep apnea.
An active lifestyle can offset the effects of sleep deprivation.
- Improves mobility
Making your body lose excess weight alleviates pressure from your joints and knees, promoting better mobility. If you are obese, you will have difficulty running, walking, participating in sports, or climbing staircases.
The decrease in pain and discomfort from your joints also promotes improved mobility. Also, losing a few pounds gives your body sufficient energy to power your movement and respiratory function. When you are obese, your body needs more fuel to support your mobility.
Contact Penn’s Rock Primary Care to schedule an appointment and learn more about your medically supervised weight management.
