How Weight Loss Can Transform Your Body
Weight loss involves reducing your total body mass. Cutting down on your weight is considered healthy and majority of people are striving to reduce or check on their weight. Excessive weight loss however is not good for your health either.
To achieve gradual and sustainable weight loss, implement the following strategies:
- Cut back on calories.
- Add fiber to your diet.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Engage in regular physical activity.
Common Causes of Unintentional Weight Loss
Recognize that unintentional weight loss can occur due to various underlying diseases.
- Depression, a mood disorder, can affect the brain regions that control appetite, leading to anorexia.
- Oral ulcers, diarrhea, and viral infections can also negatively impact appetite, resulting in weight loss.
Positive Effects of Weight Loss
Understand the benefits that weight loss can bring to your life:
- Improved mood and self-esteem: Individuals suffering from obesity may experience stigmatization, anxiety, and depression due to societal judgments. Achieving weight loss, even a small amount, can help boost self-confidence and open a new chapter in life.
- Elimination or reduce certain health problems: Sustainable weight loss improves physical, emotional, and mental health. It lowers blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of diabetes, while also achieving appropriate blood pressure and cholesterol levels, decreasing heart disease risk.
- Better sleep: Effective weight loss can prevent fat from clogging airways, eliminating breathing problems during sleep and ensuring restful nights.
- Increased energy levels: Enhanced sleep quality and overall health from weight loss efforts contribute to higher energy levels.
Be Cautious of Extreme Weight Loss
Avoid losing more than 1 kilogram per week, as this can lead to adverse effects. Be aware of the following potential signs of extreme weight loss:
- Hair loss and feeling cold.
- Loose and hanging skin: Significant weight loss may result in visible folds, making you appear tired, older, and less fit due to decreased skin tension.
- Disruption of the menstrual cycle: Rapid weight loss can signal to the body that it is in starvation mode, thus halting menstrual processes.
- Nutritional deficiencies: Extreme weight loss can deprive your body of essential nutrients, leading to conditions such as anemia, weakened bones, and a compromised immune system.
- Loss of muscle mass: Weight loss may include muscle mass reduction, which can impair daily activities due to weakness.