Do you feel super comfortable in your own skin and are you one of the lucky ones who don’t have any serious health problems despite being overweight? Then you naturally ask yourself: “Why should I lose weight at all?” There are actually good reasons for losing weight if you are overweight. Many secondary diseases often remain unnoticed for a long time and insidiously only appear after a delay. Obesity does not necessarily mean that you will develop other diseases. But you can’t rely on everything staying good. We have collected a few powerful arguments in favour of losing weight if you are overweight.
You relieve your heart when you lose weight
For every extra kilo, your heart has to perform additional pumping work. So one of the most important arguments for losing weight with obesity is your heart. In the case of obesity, it has to work up to 50% harder to supply all the excess pounds with blood and oxygen. Being overweight also favours cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, heart failure, strokes and heart attacks. The less weight you have, the less your heart has to work. Just five per cent less weight has a positive effect on your metabolism and your heart.
You reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes
While the risk of type 1 diabetes can hardly be influenced by lifestyle, an unhealthy diet, obesity and lack of exercise increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. The good news: If you lose weight and fight your obesity, you reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 70 per cent.
You improve your blood sugar levels
Even if your weight has already reached its limit, losing weight has advantages: Diabetics who are overweight can significantly improve their blood sugar levels and get their sugar metabolism back on track by losing 15 kilograms. People with type 2 diabetes who lose a lot of weight can even do without medication at times.
Overweight: Losing weight lowers your blood pressure
Doctors assume that high blood pressure in 30 to 60 percent of those affected is due to being overweight. People who are severely overweight are three times more likely to suffer from high blood pressure than people of normal weight. The good news is that losing weight can significantly lower your blood pressure. According to current studies, losing an average of four kilograms can reduce systolic blood pressure by an average of 4 to 5 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 3 mmHg. If that’s not a good reason to lose weight?
Obesity: Fat metabolism normalizes when you lose weight
Visceral abdominal fat favours metabolic processes that promote fat metabolism disorders and thus the development of cardiovascular diseases or type 2 diabetes. Impaired blood lipid levels can lead to circulatory disorders and increase the risk of a heart attack and stroke. If you are overweight, your triglyceride levels are typically elevated, the “good” HDL cholesterol is often too low, and the “bad” LDL cholesterol is too high. Losing weight is the most effective treatment for lipid metabolism disorders – and at the same time you prevent further metabolic disorders.
Obesity: Losing weight relieves pressure on your joints
Being overweight puts enormous additional strain on your skeletal system. This means that people with too much weight have a significantly increased risk of joint problems. This is also because those affected often move too little, as movement often causes (further) pain. If you rest, you rust. Any excess weight puts strain on your joints and they wear out faster. But: Just 5 to 10 kilograms less takes the strain off your joints and the discomfort eases. Every extra weight you lose also makes you more flexible.
You reduce the risk of certain cancer types
Obesity and a high-fat diet are associated with an increased risk of certain cancers. Studies show that the risk of cancer increases starting at a body mass index (BMI) of 25. Especially for pancreatic cancer, gallbladder cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer or uterine cancer. Conversely, weight reduction reduces the risk of cancer. However, being severely overweight not only plays an important role in the development of cancer. Scientists have discovered that obesity is associated with a 35 to 40% higher risk of metastasis and relapse in breast cancer patients.
You can strengthen your immune system by losing weight
In people who are overweight, the immune system is chronically activated and therefore stressed. This increases the risk of many diseases. You’ve already guessed it: Losing weight is healthy and boosts the performance of your immune system. The reason: The pro-inflammatory substances in your cells are reduced and this strengthens your defences.
Losing weight increases fertility
Being overweight can make you infertile – men and women alike. Once again, hormones are to blame. Less weight increases the chances of getting pregnant in women and the quality of sperm in men. According to the German Society for Sports Medicine and Prevention (DGSP-Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sportmedizin und Prävention), a weight reduction of 4.3 to 10.2 kilograms within six months increases the chance of pregnancy in people who are overweight or obese by 80%. The risk of miscarriage is reduced from 75% to 18%. So, if you want to have children, now is the time: Lose weight for the baby!
Less weight increases your well-being
The less weight you carry around with you, the easier it will be to do everyday things such as climbing stairs, walking the dog or shopping. Your trousers fit again, you sweat less, the compliments pile up, you sleep better and feel younger and more comfortable overall. After all, obesity is not a purely medical or physical problem. Your mental well-being also benefits from losing weight.
