Full disclosure: there are several reasons why people decide to lose weight as an act of self-love and a way to stay body-positive. That said, it’s important to define your why. After all, having an end destination in mind can help you along the journey, especially on those days where you feel like you’re stalling. Whether you want to look better or feel better, here are 10 common motives behind weight loss based on the many benefits involved.
1. Reduced Physical Health Risk
First things first, if you're overweight or obese, you can develop certain health problems, such as:- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
- Some types of cancer
- High blood pressure
Therefore, you might choose to lose weight to lower this risk.
2. Improved Mental Health
In addition to affecting your physical health, being overweight causes your entire system to be out of balance — including the hormones that affect your mood. As a result, you might want to lose weight to decrease feelings of depression and anxiety — and ultimately improve your overall wellbeing.
3. Glowing Skin
Do you often find that your skin is dry and patchy? If so, this might be because of a diet that is high in carbohydrates and sugar. However, by eating more nutrients found in healthy food, you can clear up your complexion and give it a natural glow. Natural glowing skin a great way to stay body-positive.
4. A Better Night’s Sleep
Another reason why people lose weight is to improve their quality of sleep. Why? Well, excess weight around the neck can cause two frequent sleep issues: sleep apnea and snoring. By saying goodbye to excess weight, you can also say hello to better sleep.
5. Less Joint Pain
It’s a well-known fact that those who are overweight build up excess stress on their joints. This can then lead to osteoarthritis, which can cause joints to become painful and stiff. If you’re experiencing this problem, you might choose to follow an anti-inflammatory diet to alleviate any arthritis symptoms.
6. Reduced Allergy Symptoms
Do you struggle with allergies more than the average person? If so, you might decide to lose weight to combat this. Essentially, being overweight is known to put a strain on the adrenal glands and respiratory system, which can then worsen asthma and allergy symptoms.
7. A Better Sense of Taste
Another reason why people might want to lose weight is to improve their sense of taste. Sure, it sounds bizarre, but a study by Stanford University found that your taste buds can become dulled with overuse. That said, there is also another theory that weight loss causes hormonal shifts, which change the way that taste receptors communicate with the brain.
8. More Energy
Losing weight can boost your energy like nothing else. How, you ask? Well, this is mainly because you end up eating healthier foods that maintain your energy levels. But it’s also because you are carrying around less weight.
9. Improved Memory
In addition to improving your mood, you might want to lose weight to boost your memory. After all, a study previously compared 109 people who underwent bariatric surgery to 41 people who didn’t lose any weight. After 12 weeks had passed, the researchers found that those who had undergone the weight-loss surgery had a much better memory.
10. More Confidence
Lastly, one of the most popular reasons why people choose to lose weight is because it gives them more confidence in everyday life. Not only is it incredible to step on the scales and see that you’re a stone lighter, but it’s also extremely satisfying knowing that you took control and made it happen. And this makes you feel invincible!
