We are offering COVID-19 antibody testing and accepting visits via Telemedicine. Click here to schedule an appointment.

Immediate Health Benefits of Weight Loss

Immediate Health Benefits of Weight Loss

If you’re trying to lose some excess weight, you aren’t alone. More Americans are overweight than are not, and losing weight is a common goal. 

At MyNP Professionals, Dr. Rosalyn McFarland and Dr. Clarissa Lawrence support our patients’ efforts to lose weight. We offer weight loss services, and we’re happy to answer your questions. Misinformation and bad advice abound, so we welcome the opportunity to help you understand how to lose weight in a healthy way. 

It’s understandable to feel frustrated if your goal is to lose 20, 50, or a 100 pounds, and it seems like the needle on the scale barely moves. In reality, even modest weight loss garners some big health benefits. In this post, we discuss what you can expect from a health perspective if you lose a few pounds. 

By a “few pounds” or “modest loss,” we mean around 5% of your body weight. That means if you weigh 200 pounds and you lose 10, you are likely to see improvements in some key health markers. 

Lower risk of chronic disease

When you lose a few pounds, your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, and a host of other chronic conditions drops. Weight loss doesn’t guarantee you won’t develop a chronic disease, of course, but it does statistically improve your chances.

Obesity is associated with a variety of health issues, and many of them can be life-threatening. If losing 10 pounds can make it less likely you’ll have a stroke or develop certain types of cancer, it’s well worth the effort. 

If you have insulin resistance or pre-diabetes, losing weight may help you avoid developing diabetes. Diabetes can cause damage to your eyes, your nerves, and your blood vessels. It can be difficult to control and expensive to treat, so losing a few pounds now can save you from numerous problems in the future! 

Better health markers

When you visit our offices, we look at several data points that provide information about your overall health. Your respiration, blood pressure, and heart rate are all markers that we measure to better understand your health. When you lose weight, most of those numbers improve—which means you’re healthier. 

Better sleep

Sleep is restorative, necessary, and linked to better health. Similar to obesity, poor sleep is associated with a long list of chronic conditions, so when you improve the quality of your sleep, you protect your health. 

Losing even a little bit of weight is likely to improve your sleep. You may be more comfortable, and you may be able to breathe better. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common problem, but one that often improves with weight loss. 

Healthier joints

Every extra 10 pounds of weight on your body adds 40 pounds of pressure to your weight-bearing joints, like your knees. Osteoarthritis, which is sometimes referred to as “wear-and-tear arthritis,” often affects the knee joints. 

Arthritis is painful and makes it difficult to do the things you need to do and the things you enjoy doing. Losing a little weight can extend the life of your joints. 

Get tailored advice 

If you’re struggling to lose weight, or you aren’t sure exactly where to start, schedule an appointment at MyNP Professionals. Our providers can give you expert advice, suitable for your situation. Your goals, lifestyle, overall fitness level, and other factors all play a role in what kind of weight loss program is most likely to work for you. 

You Might Also Enjoy...

Prevent Your Prediabetes from Becoming Full-blown Diabetes

About 96 million American adults have prediabetes, and as many as 80% of them don’t know that they have it. Prediabetes is typically a precursor to developing type 2 diabetes. But it doesn’t have to be. Read on to learn how you can take charge and reverse

4 Ways Exercise Helps Arthritis

Arthritis is notorious for causing stiff, sore joints, and it affects nearly 60 million people in the United States. You might be surprised to learn that exercise can help reduce the pain and swelling associated with arthritis. Read on to learn more.

When Do Anxiety and Depression Require Professional Help?

It’s normal to feel a wide spectrum of human emotions, including depression and anxiety. But no emotion should ever control you or interfere with your life. Here’s how to spot the signs that some professional help would do you good.

Preparing for Your DOT Physical

DOT physical exams are required for your safety and the safety of others. If you need a DOT physical exam, preparation is key. Read on to learn tips about preparing for this important appointment!