Why is weight such a hot topic for your doctor? Most women have had their doctor tell them that they should be at a healthy weight and under a certain body fat percentage…but why? We’re going to go in depth for you and show you how your health could be related to how much you weigh.
How does having a high body fat percentage affect your health? When you’re outside of the healthy range for body fat percentage, a lot of systems in your body can be thrown out of balance. Your hormone levels can be unstable, your metabolism is thrown off, and your body has to work harder than it normally would need to to operate. This can make it more challenging to handle infections, viruses, and make it harder for your body to maintain an optimal health level. Your doctor recommends that you keep your weight in check and your body fat percentage in a normal range, 18-28% for women, because he/she knows how many aspects of your health are related to your weight.
How can your weight help you lower your risk for major health issues?
One reason being at a healthy weight is so important is that it can boost your body’s ability to keep you healthy and keep you at a lower risk for major diseases. Obesity is a risk factor for many health issues, including Type II diabetes, coronary artery disease and cancer. This isn’t to say that if you are obese you are guaranteed to get a diagnosis for one of these major health issues, but your weight can contribute to your risk level and anything you can do to minimize your risk and optimize your health will help!
Cancer risk and weight gain
New research has come out showing how obesity and cancer are linked. Cancer has affected women, specifically overweight/obese women, more than overweight/obese men. The National Cancer Institute completed a study in 2012, 72,000 or 9.5% of new cancer diagnoses in women were related to obesity, compared to 28,000 or 3.5% in men (see references). Researchers have found that an increase in adipose tissue, also known as “body fat”, is linked to excessive estrogen levels and chronic inflammation which, in turn, are linked to a higher risk for women’s cancers, including:
- Endometrial Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Thyroid Cancer
- Kidney Cancer
- Liver Cancer
Risk for these cancers can increase up to four times for overweight or obese women compared to women in a healthy weight range. Now of course there are genetic factors that you cannot control when it comes to cancer, but you can control and develop new healthy habits that will help you get down to, and maintain, a healthy weight. A healthy lifestyle is associated with an anti-inflammatory diet and a healthy weight is linked to an improved immune system. The combination of losing weight and getting into a healthy body fat percentage range could help reduce your risk for developing cancer.
Your weight as it relates to arthritis and joint pain
Your weight and body fat percentage can influence how you feel on a day-to-day basis, including your joint and muscle health. Research shows that women who are overweight or obese are more at risk for developing arthritis and are more likely to require a joint replacement, especially later in life. Each pound added on to your body is the equivalent of four pounds of pressure added on to your joints and only accelerates the results of normal wear and tear. The good news is that for every pound you lose, you take that four pounds of pressure off of your joints! Getting down to, and maintaining, a healthy weight can reduce the pain in your joints and make them operate smoothly, which means you can live a healthy and active lifestyle!
Being the healthiest version of you for yourself and your family
If you’re looking to start a family, or are already in the process of starting one, you know how important it is to you to be healthy. Being at a healthy weight can provide many benefits when you’re looking to get pregnant including,
- Healthy weight is associated with improved chances of getting pregnant, having a healthy, full-term pregnancy, and reducing complications during labor
- Healthy weight is directly related to your hormones and balance between estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels
- This hormone imbalance can cause irregular periods and can affect your ovulation cycle which in turn can make it more difficult to get pregnant
Fertility issues affect more than 10% of women in the United States and for many, it often can feel like an issue that you have no control over. But being the healthiest you can be and managing your weight is something that can help you start your family. Being healthy can also increase your longevity and ensures that you are able to give your family the care they need and that you will be there for them for a long time!
Here at 30/10 Weight Loss for Life, we understand how important it is to you to be healthy and be your best you, it’s important to us too! We want to help you achieve your weight loss goals and live a healthy life, just like we’ve helped countless other women do. We’ve helped women reduce their risk for chronic illnesses, improve their joint health and manage pain, and have helped them achieve a healthy lifestyle for their families. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you achieve weight loss success, click here.
30/10 Weight Loss for Life isn’t a diet, it is a comprehensive weight loss program that can help you achieve your goals and weight loss success! Get started with 30/10 Weight Loss for Life by visiting any 30/10 location or call us at (855)-937-3010!
Sources
Obesity & Women’s Health- National Center for Biotechnology Information
