Losing weight can benefit both your mind and body. Many people aim to lose weight to feel better about themselves, while others focus on improving their overall health. Shedding excess pounds can boost confidence and help prevent serious health issues like diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. With weight loss injections seeing a huge increase in popularity, we want to explore the health benefits to weight loss.
In this article, we consider the impact that weight loss can have on your health, how weight loss can improve other medical conditions and mental health, and provide practical steps to help you achieve your weight loss goals.
The Overall Impact Weight Loss Can Have on your Health
Weight loss can have many physical and mental health benefits, particularly improved mobility and increased energy levels. Losing weight can help ease pressure on the hips and knees, reducing strain on joints and muscles which leads to less pain and stiffness. This allows you to move more freely and comfortably.
Losing weight can also boost your energy levels significantly. With less weight to carry, your body can use its energy more efficiently. This means you’ll have the stamina to enjoy a more active lifestyle and can engage in a range of exercises which can boost your fitness levels, and when you achieve your weight loss goals it can increase your self-confidence and motivation in these areas, too.
Another benefit of losing weight is that it can improve your sleep quality. You may notice an improvement in your sleep patterns which is essential for your energy levels throughout the day. Better sleep can not only enhance recovery and overall wellbeing, but it can also contribute to increased energy and vitality.
How Weight Loss Can Improve Other Medical Conditions
You may notice an improvement with other medical conditions when you lose weight as it can have a positive impact on your overall health. Here at Simple Online Pharmacy, we surveyed over 500 of our patients who had made a significant reduction in their BMI to find out about the impact of weight loss medications on individuals. So – what health conditions can losing weight benefit? Let’s take a look.
Cholesterol
Losing weight can drastically improve cholesterol, particularly by reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, which contributes to better cardiovascular health and a reduced risk of heart-related conditions. 20% of respondents saw an improvement in their cholesterol levels when taking weight loss medications.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Weight loss is a crucial component of managing PCOS, offering improvements in fertility, hormonal balance and metabolic health, which can all lead to better health outcomes and quality of life for women who are affected. Our survey found that 6% of all patients surveyed saw improvements in their symptoms of PCOS.
Blood Pressure
27% said they noticed a decrease in their blood pressure. Losing weight reduces the strain put on your heart by reducing the amount of work the heart has to do to pump blood throughout the body, which can help lower blood pressure levels as the heart can operate more efficiently. Weight loss can also help improve the health of blood vessels by decreasing the risk of damage and associated complications such as heart attacks and strokes.
Pre-Diabetes
Weight loss can benefit those with pre-diabetes as it helps improve the body’s ability to use insulin effectively. This helps prevent blood sugar levels from rising too high and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Even modest weight loss can make a significant difference. 10% of our patients saw an improvement in their pre-diabetes symptoms.
The Impact of Weight Loss on Mental Health
Losing weight improves mental health significantly, as weight loss can help reduce stress and anxiety. When people shed pounds, they often gain confidence which can boost their self-esteem, leading to better moods. Better sleep and increased energy levels due to weight loss can also contribute to an improved mood.
Exercising while on your weight loss journey helps to release endorphins, which help to fight depression and low mood. Eating healthier can also sharpen the mind, which can improve your concentration. You may also notice your social interactions improving when you start to feel better about yourself, and these positive changes contribute to an overall sense of wellbeing.
Interestingly, 81% of the patients that we surveyed agreed that their overall mood and confidence levels had improved since losing weight, with 46% saying they felt more optimistic – all of which highlights the strong link between mental health and weight loss.
5 Practical Steps to Achieve your Weight Loss Goals
If you hope to lose weight and meet your set goal, create a sustainable weight loss plan tailored to your needs and lifestyle. Here are some practical steps for you to follow.
- Set realistic goals. Losing weight requires consistency, so start by setting clear goals. These targets need to be specific and measurable. For example, try to aim to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week. This is considered safe and sustainable.
- Commit to lifestyle changes. To lose weight, your routine needs to change to incorporate time for exercise and healthier meal planning. Changing your daily habits takes time so it’s important to stick to your new routine.
- Make healthier choices. Ensure you eat satisfying and nutritious foods and increase your intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Opt for water instead of sugary drinks. Lower your calorie intake and consider portion control.
- Track your progress. Many tools are available to help monitor your weight loss progress, such as apps, charts, and journals. You can monitor your daily food intake and your fitness activity to help you stay on track.
- Celebrate small victories. Find ways to stay motivated and focused and set yourself small milestones to meet. Reward yourself when you meet these goals as this will help you to stay motivated and on track to meet your weight loss goal.
