You’ve decided to have the conversation about weight and health with your doctor, and you’re eager to begin your weight-loss journey. Perhaps you have this “ideal” body weight in mind, and you’re looking forward to meeting that goal so you can reap the many health benefits that come with improved weight. But when exactly do those health benefits start to take place?
Studies have shown that health benefits resulting from weight-loss are evident with as low as 5-10 percent in weight reduction. For example, an individual who weighs 200 pounds can benefit greatly just from losing 10-20 pounds! In fact, plenty of experts and evidence agree that many conditions associated with excess weight can be alleviated by losing just 5-10 percent.
Let’s take a look at some of them below.
Health Benefits of 5-10 Percent Weight-loss
- Decreased Insulin Levels – Weight gain can sometimes be associated with “insulin resistance” – a condition where the pancreas produces larger than normal amounts of insulin which can lead to increased fat tissue, poor cholesterol and hormone changes. Even modest weight-loss can significantly lower insulin levels and help reverse these conditions.
- Reduced Risk for Diabetes – By losing just 5-10 percent of your body weight, you can greatly reduce your risk for diabetes or improve your levels of Hemoglobin (one of the markers used to screen for diabetes). Your blood sugar levels can also improve dramatically.
- Reduced Effects from Sleep Apnea – In individuals with excess weight, sleep apnea may occur due to insufficient amounts of oxygen during sleep. As a result, snoring or large gasps of breath may occur. A modest weight-loss of 5-10 percent can begin fighting sleep apnea for good and decrease the feeling of fatigue or sleepiness throughout the day.
- Improved Blood Pressure – Even modest weight-loss can have tremendous effects on blood pressure and hypertension, especially when combined with a diet low in salt that is rich with produce and low-fat dairy. By losing just 5-10 percent of one’s weight, blood pressure (both systolic and diastolic) can decrease by 5 mmHg on average.
- Less Inflammation – Fat cells, especially abdominal fat cells, can produce a large number of substances which result in inflamed blood vessels. A consequence of inflammation can be plaque, blood blots and problems with heart attacks or strokes. Just 10 percent of weight-loss can drop levels of inflammatory substances in the blood and reduce the risk of vascular damage.
So, don’t be intimated by large amounts of weight-loss if you’re trying to improve your health. Even by losing a modest about of weight, you can improve your overall quality of life and help
your body run with more efficiency. It’s okay to take it slow and steady!
Want more information about the benefits of 5-10 percent of weight-loss? You can read more about improving your health by viewing the full article from Your Weight Matters Magazine! To read the article, please CLICK HERE.
