What Are the Benefits of Weight Loss?
Although obesity is associated with a number of sometimes serious medical conditions, for most people obesity is a treatable and manageable chronic condition. Weight loss is an essential part of managing and reducing obesity, as weight loss provides many short and long-term health benefits. Physicians typically recommend that obese people lose approximately 10 percent of their weight to significantly decrease obesity-related health risks14 . According to recent research, the following health benefits are associated with weight loss:
- Weight loss of five to 15 percent of total body weight can lower an individual’s chances for developing heart disease or having a stroke, as weight loss may improve blood pressure, triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and decrease inflammation throughout the body15;
- Weight loss of 10 to 15 pounds is likely to slow the development of, and halt the symptoms associated with, knee osteoarthritis16;
- Weight loss of five to 10 percent of total body weight can raise
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol17; - For every two pounds lost, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels are reduced by one percent18;
- Overweight or obese people can lower their risk for developing Type 2 diabetes by participating in weight loss and increasing physical activity;19 and
- Weight loss can also result in lowered blood pressure20.
