People often associate a weight loss plan with achieving an "ideal" body. This causes some to pursue dangerous crash diet plans and discourages others from even trying. Rather, the correct goal is to improve your health. This is far easier to achieve. The five benefits discussed below are attained through moderate exercise and a healthy diet.
Lower Blood Pressure
The lower your weight, the less fluid pressure there is in your lower extremities. This requires the heart to exert less pressure to circulate this blood elsewhere. Blood pressure is also reduced by having less fat in the abdomen. Abdominal fat produces substances that cause the arteries to fill up with plaque. The narrowed blood vessels then cause an additional blood pressure increase.
Reduced Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke
The plaque buildup in blood vessels induced by abdominal fat causes more problems than just higher blood pressure. The plaque can form clots which may cause heart attack and stroke. So, reduced abdominal fat means less plaque and reduced risk of heart attack and stroke.
Reduced Risk of Type II Diabetes
Fat in your abdomen also releases substances that have a profound effect on your metabolic systems. This results in an increased risk of developing type II diabetes.
Reduced Joint Pain
The joints have tissues that cushion them from friction. This cushion tissue consists of fluid filled sacs, ligaments and cartilage. As you age, the cushion tissue wears down from a lifetime of bearing the weight of your body. When you put on a back pack that weighs 10 to 20 pounds, you immediately feel this added load in your hips, knees and ankles. When you carry this load around as excess body weight, the hips, knees and ankles must bear the same strain. By reducing this load, the joint cushion tissue doesn't degenerate as fast, which often results in less joint pain later in life.
Reduced Healthcare Costs
A healthy individual spends less on their own healthcare because they aren’t as likely suffer from health issues. They may not require as many medications or frequent trips to the doctor (other than annual physicals). They have the option of taking a high deductible health insurance plan because they know their risk of a health insurance claim ever being made is minimal. A high deductible generally reduces monthly premiums. They save by paying smaller premiums and from not having as many out-of-pocket expenses associated with medications and frequent visits to the doctor.
How do you lose weight to gain these benefits? Twenty or more minutes of walking at a moderate pace at least five times per week combined with a heart-healthy diet are required. Other types of exercise routines that elevate the heart rate by a moderate amount will also suffice. Check with your doctor first before starting an exercise program.
Your health is our priority. Call First Insurance Group at (800) 511-2892 for more information on Nicholasville health insurance.