Five Common Health Problems That Improve Drastically with Weight Loss

People are usually inclined to treat the symptoms rather than the underlying cause of their health problems. Take a fever, for example. If you have a fever, that is commonly a symptom of an infection resulting from a cold or a stomach bug. Sometimes, a fever can be indicative of a much severe and lingering medical condition such as hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer.

We are generally inclined to pump our body with the OTC medications without understanding how it may be interfering with the normal function of our organs. The advent of the internet has made everyone a medical expert, feeling confident in self-treating their rather complex medical conditions.

Weight management is a massive part of your overall health. According to wellness experts, losing weight can provide healing in conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension. While the process of shedding bodyweight might seem overwhelming, the amount of weight loss required to see health benefits is, in fact, pretty low.

Here we will be discussing five common obesity-linked health conditions that can improve dramatically with weight loss.

• Diabetes Management/Insulin Sensitivity

Did you know that losing as much as 5% of body weight can improve insulin sensitivity? In a review overlooking diet management and lifestyle interventions type 2 diabetics, a cutoff point at 5% body weight improved the boof sugar of the patients. The weight loss was also associated with improved insulin sensitivity in the liver, fat tissues, and muscles. It also benefited the beta cells of the pancreas (involved in insulin production).

If you recently discovered from a blood sugar test clinic near me that you are prediabetic or you just got diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, decreasing about 5-10% body weight can positively reverse your diabetes, put it into remission, or prevent it from developing altogether. Losing some pounds will also protect you from experiencing common diabetes-related conditions such as neuropathy, retinopathy, liver damage, kidney failure, heart disease, and hypertension.

Figuring out how to achieve a persistent weight loss begins with a thorough assessment if your eating patterns so that you can pick the habits that might be holding you back from desired results. Get registered with a dietician or a certified nutritionist to come up with a meal plan and to set achievable goals to help you attain a healthy weight.

• Joint Health

Your joints do more work than you realize. They support the weight of your entire body and help you in movement. Being overweight or obese can immensely increase the stress and pressure on your joints leading to joint pain associated with arthritis and rheumatism. Losing weight can relieve joint pain and improve the quality of your life. But how much weight loss does it require?

According to a published medical journal, losing a single pound of weight resulted in about four pounds of pressure being lifted from the knees. Losing 10 pounds of weight, in other words, would remove 40 pounds of pressure from your knees. A common reason for joint pain in obese patients is osteoarthritis. A review found out that a weight loss of about 11 pounds (5.1 kilograms) can lower the risk of developing osteoarthritis. Overall, a 10% weight reduction is a realistic target for tackling arthritic pain and associated physical damage.

Our fat tissue produces pro-inflammatory chemicals. Losing weight, therefore, can reduce the overall inflammation present in the body. To amplify the benefits, start eating anti-inflammatory foods and get sufficient collagen and gelatin in your diet. Get in touch with a professional dietician for an effective and targeted meal plan.

• Blood Pressure

Being overweight can put a lot of strain on your heart, which can make you vulnerable to heart diseases and hypertension (high blood pressure). Whether you have hypertension or you recently got diagnosed with stage 1 hypertension, you don’t have to immediately start taking medications and drugs to lower the blood pressure. Weight loss can significantly help with managing blood pressure. You do not have to lose 50 pounds to see improvement. Losing as much as 5% body weight can lower your systolic pressure by 3 mm Hg and your diastolic pressure by 2 mm Hg.

There was a study that observed patients who were already on antihypertensive drugs. The participating group was subjected to an exercise and diet program of 3 months, in which the participants lost an average of 4.9% body weight. Just a minimal amount of weight loss was sufficient in these patients to regulate their blood pressure.

Try the DASH diet, which was designed explicitly for managing blood pressure. Cut down on junk and processed food and try to incorporate more vegetables and fruits in your diet. There is also a focus on lowering sodium levels and increasing the fiber content of your diet.

• Fatty Liver

Fatty liver is a lesser-known but incredibly common condition affecting many people all over the world. Did you know that fatty liver is linked to obesity, diabetes, and other conditions associated with insulin resistance? The concerning aspect of this fatty liver is that, if not treated in time, it can progress to cause severe liver damage and many other health issues. Technically, fatty liver is the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFD), also referred to as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Weight loss, from physical activity and dietary changes, is essentially the primary treatment for fatty liver disease and NASH. In the case of fatty liver, it is recommended to have a well-maintained and slow-paced weight loss plan rather than crash dieting, which can cause more damage than good. While sustained weight loss might seem daunting, it is the only effective remedial option for fatty liver. According to research, a 10% weight loss is optimal for rejuvenating liver health.

• Sleep Quality

Many people have trouble getting a good night’s sleep. If you carry a lot of your weight around your belly, losing some of that muffin top can help you improve your sleep. Excess body fat and weight increase your chances of developing obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a condition where your airway gets blocked, either partially or entirely, during sleep. The temporary blockage can disturb the sleep by causing frequent awakenings and also increases the risk of heart diseases, stroke, and hypertension.

Losing about 10% of your body weight can improve the quality of your sleep cycles. While sleep apnea is a common disturbance faced by many people, losing excess weight also helps with other sleep disorders. If you have been struggling with sleep apnea, try polyphasic sleep, and construct a health plan to lose weight.

Conclusion

Regardless of what hundreds and thousands of websites and resources want you to believe, there is no magic potion that can melt away your fat. The only solution to an effective weight loss is a good old-fashioned healthy diet and exercise. If you are serious about improving your health, try to incorporate at least 150 minutes of low-moderate intensity workouts each week. The combination of a low-calorie diet and regular exercise can surprise you with the health benefits.