Weight loss is no easy task, and keeping weight off can sometimes be the greatest challenge. But always remember this: every effort to maintain a healthy weight helps.
Weight loss can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Research shows that those risks are reduced and maintained even with a small amount of weight regained. This is what I see in my practice at the Temple Health Bariatric Program. It’s common to regain some weight after significant weight loss. In my practice, I’ve worked with patients who feel that regaining any weight means they've failed. However, this simply isn’t true — and we have the research to support it.
The cardiovascular benefits of weight loss
People who have obesity face an increased risk of high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Both of these factors can heighten the risk of cardiovascular disease, like stroke, heart failure, and coronary artery disease.
But the good news is that lifestyle and behavior changes can counteract this process. Studies show that people who lost weight through an intense behavioral weight loss program enjoyed:
- Decreased risk of cardiovascular disease
- Lower systolic blood pressure levels
- Lower total cholesterol-to-good cholesterol ratio
Good cardiovascular health can help you stay active, which in turn can aid in reaching and maintaining your goal weight. The healthy cycle is staying active, which improves your cardiovascular health – and improved cardiovascular health helps you stay active. But it has to start somewhere. Here at Temple Bariatric Program, we help you identify achievable changes that fit with your lifestyle and health needs.
Weight loss can lower the risk of diabetes
It’s not just your heart that benefits from weight loss. That same intense weight-loss program can lead to lower diabetes markers, which decreases your overall health risks. You should have your hemoglobin A1C checked every 3 to 6 months to monitor your progress.
Why healthy weight matters
Obesity increases the risk of many other health conditions and diseases, like:
- Cancers, including breast, colon, esophagus, liver, pancreas, and thyroid
- Osteoarthritis
- Obstructive sleep apnea and breathing issues
- Heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Depression and anxiety
- Hernias
- Restricted physical activity due to shortness of breath, joint pain or muscle weakness
- Fatty liver disease
- Gallstones and related complications
- Swollen legs and vein disease or other consequences of poor circulation
Researchers are studying how losing excess weight affects cancer risk. Evidence shows that weight loss is associated with reduced risk of some cancers, like breast and endometrial cancers, and improvement in other health conditions like arthritis pain, sleep issues, and depression, too.
How to get help reaching and maintaining a healthy weight
About 30-40% of adults in the U.S. struggle with obesity. Yet many people feel they have to cope with this chronic disease on their own. That’s just not the case.
At the Temple Bariatric Program, we focus on helping people reach their weight goals and sustain them. We are your partners in health, working together to develop a plan that meets your needs. Temple offers a full spectrum of care, from minimally invasive weight-loss procedures to nutrition guidance. Our bariatric surgery specialists are with you every step of the way.
Taking control of your health can start today. Request an appointment online or call 800-TEMPLE-MED (800-836-7536).
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