Regardless of whether we’re young or old, it’s important for us to maintain a healthy weight in order to lead a healthier lifestyle. Obesity is, unfortunately, becoming more prevalent among people, both young and old, today due to a rise in diet that is high in calories and a lack of movement, to name a few. This is extremely alarming as obesity can lead to a number of health problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, poor mental health, and heart disease. As we grow older, it becomes more challenging for us to lose weight due to aging muscles, lower metabolism, and hormonal changes. As such, it’s better to lose weight as early as possible.
In this post, we look into the various reasons why you should maintain a healthy weight.
Prevents Diabetes and Hypertension
When one is obese, they are at a higher risk of developing diabetes and hypertension. How this occurs is due to the cells of fatty tissues having to put in more work to process more nutrients in order for the body to function. Since these tissues are incapable to take in such a high amount of nutrients, this places much stress on the cells, triggering an inflammation that increases the production of the nutrient cytokines. Cytokines are responsible for blocking the signals from insulin receptors. Therefore, the cells will eventually become more resistant to insulin.
In the end, your body will no longer be able to regulate blood sugar levels, resulting in you developing diabetes. Hypertension will also occur as the blood pressure increases. Diabetes is extremely dangerous as it can lead to severe health problems, like heart attack and stroke, which can be fatal at times. This goes for hypertension as well.
Prevents Respiratory Problems
Have you ever encountered an obese person having difficulties breathing? Or have to take deeper breaths than normal after completing a strenuous activity? This is actually more common than you think as obesity compresses the diaphragm, lungs, and chest cavity, resulting in the respiratory muscles becoming weaker over time. Aside from the obvious health complications, respiratory problems are also hugely discomforting and can cause the individual to develop allergies, asthma, and inflammation as well. Therefore, in order to lead a good quality of life, one should look for ways to maintain a healthy weight.
Prevents Fractures
Now, while most people would associate unhealthy weight with being obese, being underweight is also a huge cause of concern. If one is underweight, they are at a high risk of suffering from osteoporosis, a condition that causes the bones to become extremely weak. In situations that require the body to move around, an underweight individual may face the likelihood of getting their bones fractured. When it comes to osteoporosis, the most common areas for injuries are the hip, backbone, and wrist.
Good Mental Health
Do you know that there is a scientific reason why having an unhealthy weight tends to lead to poor mental health? As poor eating habits increase inflammation in our bodies, this increases the risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. This, together with societal effects that come with having an unhealthy weight make an individual less confident, more unhappy, and less satisfied in life.
