9 Secrets About Weight Loss Your Doctor Won’t Tell You

Your doctor probably wouldn’t tell you this, but there are some big health benefits to weight loss that might surprise you.

For example, losing just 10 pounds can result in decreased blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which can greatly decrease your risk of heart disease and other illnesses down the road.

If you want to maintain your health and keep your body functioning at its best, find out about the secrets about weight loss that your doctor won’t tell you below!

1. Lower blood pressure

When you lose weight, your blood pressure usually goes down, because even just a few pounds makes a significant difference.

Lowering your blood pressure is another positive side effect of losing weight that’s easy to miss.

One study published in 2008 in The Journal of Clinical Hypertension found that obese people with high blood pressure who lost an average of 17 pounds over four months experienced significant decreases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures by 10 mm Hg and 5 mm Hg, respectively.

Research shows maintaining normal levels could prevent about 30 percent of stroke-related deaths.

Keep up with your weight loss through good nutrition and regular exercise to control what can be a dangerous condition for many people.

You might be interested in 9 Yoga Benefits That Might Surprise You

2. Lower levels of triglycerides

In one study, participants with higher levels of triglycerides had a 30% increased risk of developing heart disease and nearly three times more risk of having a stroke.

That’s where foods like avocados come in.

Researchers at Loma Linda University found that avocados can help reduce blood pressure levels, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in women (and not just men).

Scientists believe that these monounsaturated fats can help lower lipid levels by slowing down the absorption of fat from your diet so you don’t absorb as much cholesterol.

Avocados are also high in fiber which works to alleviate constipation caused by fat in your system.

3. Less risk of heart disease

Heart disease is one of America’s biggest killers, and obesity is a major risk factor.

In fact, a woman who’s obese has nearly twice as much risk of dying from heart disease as a woman at a normal weight.

But if you can lose 10 to 20 pounds, your risk falls to match that of women who never were overweight or obese.

4. Improved mobility and reduced pain

It’s no secret that losing weight is one of life’s most effective pain-management tools.

Studies have shown that obese people have a greater risk of developing osteoarthritis and other types of arthritis, and some research suggests losing excess pounds can help ease joint pain.

Research shows that exercise alone can actually reduce pain from arthritis and also boost general physical function in those with osteoarthritis, says study author Avni Bavishi, MD, MPH, a rheumatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

5. Improved mood

Many people who lose weight experience an improvement in their mood, according to a study published in Obesity Research & Clinical Practice.

Researchers found that people with obesity tend to have lower levels of well-being than people without obesity, and obesity is associated with higher depression scores.

The researchers also found that a negative correlation existed between BMI and well-being.

People who are overweight tend to be less happy than those of normal weight, but losing weight is correlated with greater well-being.

Therefore, losing weight can increase your overall happiness.

As you lose weight and begin seeing results, focus on how great you feel when exercising regularly or eating healthier food options.

This mental connection will help motivate you, even more, to stick with it!

You might also like the Top 10 Benefits of Regular Exercise

6. Better sleep

Overweight people generally have a harder time falling asleep, and they tend to wake up more frequently than normal-weight individuals.

This can wreak havoc on your metabolism.

Sleep deprivation causes levels of ghrelin, the hormone that makes you feel hungry—to rise, while leptin—which makes you feel full—plummets.

Sleep deprivation also slows down your body’s metabolic rate by up to 8 percent, according to one study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

The end result?

Your body is primed to store any excess calories from whatever source it can get them from…

Even if it means storing them as fat!

7. Higher self-esteem

There’s a social stigma attached to a weight, but studies have shown that people who lose weight tend to feel better about themselves.

Even if you don’t want to shed pounds, then going on a healthy diet may help you boost your self-esteem.

One 2011 study published in Health Psychology found that obese and overweight women who were told they had lost weight experienced significant increases in their self-esteem as well as their general health perception.

This could very well be an indirect result of shedding those extra pounds and having a healthier figure.

8. Improved insulin resistance

If you’re overweight, losing weight can improve your body’s sensitivity to insulin.

That means your pancreas is more efficient at getting glucose out of your blood and into cells, where it belongs.

This can help reduce high blood sugar levels in people with diabetes and is an important benefit of healthy eating.

Losing just 5 to 10 percent of your body weight reduces insulin resistance, according to research from Stanford University School of Medicine.

But you have to do more than just diet.

Exercise also plays a big role in helping control diabetes.

9. Lower risk for multiple cancers

Obesity has been linked to a greater risk for 14 types of cancer.

Reducing your body weight by 10 % or more can reduce your risk for these cancers significantly.

These include cancers of the breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, and kidney.

In addition to obesity itself increasing cancer risk in these areas, obesity is also associated with an increased likelihood of developing other conditions linked to cancer.

Such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which further increases overall risk.

Making sure you maintain healthy eating habits and engage in physical activity can’t only help you lose weight but also lower your overall risk for multiple types of cancer.

Why is weight loss so hard?

For years, we’ve been told that weight loss is simply a matter of calories in, calories out.

But recent research suggests there may be more to it than that—that other factors could be involved in how our bodies decide how much fat to store and how much fat we burn off.

A combination of metabolism and genetics work together to determine weight loss success.

It might not be as simple as just burning more calories than you consume each day.

These factors make weight loss hard, but they also mean there’s hope for those who struggle with their weight.

Here’re eight interesting things about weight loss your doctor probably hasn’t told you.

You may also like How Much Water Should You Drink Per Day?

How to lose weight and keep it off

If you want to know how to lose weight and keep it off, you’ve got to start by focusing on what you eat.

Nutritional deficiencies can make it difficult for your body to burn fat and process nutrients, so fixing those deficiencies is an important part of getting in shape.

A balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats will not only provide you with all of your nutritional needs but also increase your energy levels.

Exercise is also a key component of any weight loss program.

Many experts recommend an hour a day of low-impact aerobic exercises such as walking or biking.

Strength training can help build muscle mass and increase your metabolism so that you burn more calories throughout the day.

Thanks for reading our Blogs!

Cheers

Amarjeet Nagrale