Benefits of Weight Loss to Wellness

It’s important to maintain a healthy weight for overall wellness. If you’re not able to maintain a healthy weight, it could be due to an underlying condition. At Interventional Pain Associates, we will examine your overall health to determine what could be causing your weight gain. An unhealthy weight can suppress your immune system, put you at risk for heart disease, and more. Here’s what you need to know about obesity and when it would be a good idea to focus on weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight.

Overweight vs. Obesity

A healthy body mass index (BMI) ranges from around 18 to 25. Your BMI is based on your height and weight, and gives you an estimate on what your body fat is. If your BMI sits above 25 but below 30, you’re considered overweight. You’re considered obese if your BMI is 30 or higher.

Obesity can affect people of all ages, from children all the way to adults. When you are obese, it means that you have too much fat on your body. However, this isn’t the same as being overweight, though both imply that your weight is not considered healthy for your height. Obesity is more severe, and can come with far more health complications.

Dangers of Obesity

MedlinePlus explains that obesity happens over a period of time when you eat more calories than you use. You’re more likely to be overweight for a number of reasons, some of which include lack of physical activity, your genetic makeup, overeating, and more. Being considered obese are at a higher risk for many different health conditions and diseases, which the CDC notes as being:

All-causes of death (mortality)
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Cholesterol problems
Type 2 diabetes
Coronary heart disease
Stroke
Gallbladder disease
Osteoarthritis
Sleep apnea and breathing problems
Cancer
Low quality of life
Mental illnesses like depression and anxiety
Body pain and difficulty with physical functioning

All of these conditions can cause severe health issues. In some instances, these conditions can be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight and preventing unnecessary weight gain.

What Causes Weight Gain

The most obvious cause of weight gain is eating more than you’re burning off, however other factors can cause weight gain. Some common causes of weight gain include: hormone changes (with irregular menstrual cycles or menopause), aging and a slower metabolism, stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, and more.

Preventing Weight Gain

If you want to prevent weight gain, or lose weight, then you need to adapt a healthy lifestyle. You can live a healthier lifestyle by:

Maintaining an exercise regimen, at least 30 minutes a day
Preparing and planning healthy meals
Limiting sugar and alcohol
Practicing portion control
Drink more water
Adapting the 80/20 lifestyle, where you focus on eating healthy, whole foods 80% of the time and eating comfort food and sweets only 20% of the time

Benefits of Maintaining a Healthy Weight

Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise is beneficial to your body in a number of ways. It can help lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, and all of the conditions listed above. In addition, it can also help boost your immune system’s function. Having a healthy weight is one of the ways to achieve overall wellness.

Weight loss and Wellness with Interventional Pain Associates

Interventional Pain Associates can offer you on a number of different weight loss solutions. Dr. Saleemi and her team will evaluate and determine if you have any underlying issues that could be contributing to your weight gain. Your treatment plan will then focus on treating the underlying conditions so you can better control your weight. Additionally, weight loss can also be achieved with medication, exercise, and lifestyle changes. Call today to make an appointment to get on a road to a healthier you: (512)-795-7575.