Beyond the obvious benefit of losing weight to the point where it falls within the normal categories for your gender, age, and height, a weight loss program has several other life-enhancing benefits. Obesity, especially in the United States, is a raging epidemic costing millions or even billions of dollars in health and social programs for everyone who pays taxes. Obesity is ugly, but it is also dangerous. It can shorten your life, it is related to diabetes, heart disease and skeletal joints. In addition, obesity damages the image of oneself and, in the long term, the personality of the individual.

heart disease

When you have a successful weight loss program, your chance of getting or dying from heart disease is significantly reduced. Heart disease has been shown to be linked to obesity. Additionally, there are several other diseases or health conditions that are related to obesity. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Often this is due to a buildup of plaque in the arteries from high cholesterol. Pay more attention to your nutrition and you can get your weight back in the normal range and have a healthier heart, too.

self image

The benefits of a successful weight loss program will include a better self-image as you lose weight and firm sagging areas of skin. Even if your actual weight loss is only a few pounds, your success in identifying a problem, developing a remedy, and implementing your plan will help you feel good about yourself and your abilities. When you feel good about your success and your appearance, it carries over to your professional and personal life and how you project yourself.

Appearance

A helpful part of your weight loss program should be making the most of your appearance. The benefits apply to your self-esteem, of course, but when you look good, thanks to weight loss, you tend to be more successful in your professional life. If you’re significantly overweight, you’ll enjoy buying the new slimmer sizes just to take advantage of your suddenly spectacular shape. Take advantage of your slender shape to become more adventurous with your clothing style, color and design. When you look good and you know it, you feel better about yourself and for good reason.

stress reduction

Overeating caused by stress can be overcome by reducing the level of stress. On the other hand, reducing the level of stress helps reduce weight. When you’re in a high-stress career or lifestyle, your weight tends to go up. As you recognize and learn to hate the size of the person you have become, your stress level tends to rise. The opposite is true: if you start a successful weight loss program and start seeing results, your stress reduction will be safe and your body will be healthier.