The extra wellness and lifestyle benefits of weight loss

It’s no surprise that losing excess weight is good for your health. I’ve written many times about the adverse effects of being overweight/obese on your pancreas, your cardiovascular system, kidneys, liver, and some form of cancer. But what about the indirect effects of excess weight on your well-being? Here are some of the benefits gained by losing weight, especially belly (visceral) fat. We refer to these as “lifestyle benefits”.

• Improved sleep – usually a reduction in sleep apnoea

• Improved self-esteem

• Improved energy

• More positive mood and fewer mood swings

• Decreased stress

• Higher confidence at work, at home, and in social settings

• Improved sex life

• Ability to do more exercise – which can lead to further weight loss

• Enhanced body image

• Improved vitality and endurance for activity

• Inspired to engage in new activities or restart those stopped by obesity

• More active social life

While losing weight and working out come with many health and lifestyle benefits, the combination also boasts many mental health advantages. A 2019 scientific review determined that exercise can be as effective for treating depression as other first-line treatments and is vastly underutilized as a treatment method.

Another 2013 article published in the journal Frontiers in Psychiatry explored the connection between physical activity and anxiety. Researchers found that the addition of exercise leads to an increase in self-efficacy and improves a person's ability to feel confident in their success. The article authors also found that exercise may function as a distraction from anxiety, reducing symptoms of anxiety by helping a person focus on other actions.4

Weight Loss and Your Relationships

Many people find that losing weight improved the quality of their relationships. That makes sense based on all the benefits listed above; the caveat however is that losing weight solely to make someone else happy is not always a smart idea. If we choose to embark on a weight loss program we need to do that for our own well-being. To ensure long-term success, make sure that ultimately, you're losing weight for yourself and your personal goals.

At BonVie Weight Loss and Nutritional Wellness, we are here with coaching support to provide a solid, sustainable program, motivation, accountability, and shared commitment to your goals.