02/04/2022
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LOSE WEIGHT?
Weight loss can lead to changes in your personal life, mental health, your senses, and more. If youโre looking to lose some weight, want to lose more, or have just lost a lot and want to keep it off, check out some of the lesser-known rewards and other changes that come when those KGs drop.
1. Better Sleep
Shedding extra weight may help you sleep better at night. Many people who are overweight have trouble sleeping. This is often because of sleep apnea, a difficulty breathing in your sleep thatโs more common in overweight people. Weight loss can ease those breathing troubles. You might find that youโre more likely to stay asleep through the night. You may also feel more alert and well rested throughout the day.
2. Better Mood
Weight loss doesnโt just make your body feel good. It boosts your mood and mental health. In a study of obese older adults, 3 months after a significant weight loss, they reported less tension, depression, anger, and fatigue. And it went both ways. People whose moods were better dropped more pounds. Keeping a healthy weight lowers risk for depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. A good mood and a healthy weight go together.
3. A Different Taste in Food
Too much excess weight can dull your sense of taste. One reason for this might be that you've actually lost taste buds. Studies show that people who lose a lot of weight, especially after weight loss surgery, don't taste things the same way afterward. Sweet and fatty meals might not taste as good to you. So, youโll naturally start to eat more healthy food and take in fewer calories.
5. Brain Gains
Studies connect obesity to troubles with memory, thinking skills, and overall brain function. A study in 20 overweight women suggests it works the other way too. Though it was a small study, it showed that after losing weight, the women did better on memory tests. Certain parts of their brain also became more active after the weight loss.
6. A Better S*x Life
People who are obese often report low interest in s*x or that they just donโt enjoy it very much. Overweight men may struggle with erectile dysfunction. The good news is that losing the extra weight can help. A review of 16 weight-loss studies showed that when people lose weight, the quality of their s*x life improves.
7. Reduce Your Health Risks
Obesity increases your risk for many health problems. Losing the extra weight can help eliminate those health problems or lower your odds for them. Weight loss can reduce your blood pressure and cholesterol. It can also slash risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, and osteoarthritis.
8. Cut Your Cancer Risk
People who have more body fat are more likely to get many types of cancer. Weight loss can lower your risk for breast, endometrial, colon, prostate, and other cancers. Even if you do get cancer, youโll have better odds if you fight the disease at a healthier weight.
