The desire to lose weight is shared by millions of Americans, and the rewards are generally well worth the effort it takes to drop those excess pounds. Your motivation may include fitting into clothing that expresses your true self or enjoying the active outdoor lifestyle residents of Abilene love.
Perhaps the most important motivation for weight loss, however, is the positive influence it can have on your physical self. And the health benefits often begin long before you reach your weight loss goal.
Medical conditions affected by weight
Being overweight can increase your risk of developing many serious health conditions, including one or more of the following:
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Stroke and heart disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Sleep apnea
- Fatty liver disease
- Kidney disease
Increased weight has also been linked to several types of cancer, including:
- Colon and rectal cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Endometrial cancer (uterine lining)
- Postmenopausal breast cancer
- Gallbladder cancer
Excess weight can contribute to problems during pregnancy, such as high blood sugar levels, elevated blood pressure, and an increased need for cesarean delivery (C-section).
Those extra pounds also result in increased wear and tear on your musculoskeletal system, which can lead to worsening osteoarthritis and early onset of painful joint disorders that typically occur at an advanced age.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with one of these conditions, obesity complicates your treatment and makes it more likely for your condition to get worse.
The good news—just a little weight loss can go a long way
Dr. Martin is a weight loss specialist who works carefully with you to establish a goal for dropping excess pounds. But while your scale may indicate there’s still a way to go, losing just 5-10 percent of your overall weight can result in improved diabetes control, reduced blood pressure, and a lower risk of heart disease. This means that if you weigh 200 pounds, dropping just 10-20 pounds can positively impact your overall health.
Losing weight can help you lose more
Watching the scale move downward can be a great diet motivator, but there are other gifts you’ll encounter along the way that can help convince you to stick with the program.
Exercise, for instance, is a mainstay of most weight loss programs. As you lose weight, it becomes easier to move successfully through an exercise regimen. You’ll find day-to-day activities, such as the kiddo’s soccer game, easier to accomplish when you have less weight to lug around.
You can also expect your energy to increase as the pounds drop, which can get you off the couch. Even a trip to the grocery store can be quite a chore when you’re carrying extra pounds. As you lose, that extra energy may make even household tasks like vacuuming go more quickly. All that cleaning burns calories, which can lead to weight loss.
Dr. Martin and his team want to help you lose weight. Their plan includes nutritional counseling through the Ideal Protein plan that helps you learn how to eat healthily, lose weight, and keep those pounds off. Schedule your appointment today. Call the office at 325-268-1230 or request a visit online.