Is Losing Weight Always Good for Your Health?

By Tork Media

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Is Losing Weight Always Good for Your Health?

It’s common advice to lose weight in pursuit of better health and fitness, as well as mitigating certain health risks. But is losing weight always good for your health? The short and hopefully obvious answer to this is no, but when exactly is weight loss necessary? And are there any circumstances in which it can be actively detrimental to your health?

Each Individual Is Unique

First, it’s important to recognize that each individual is unique. You don’t have the same body type as others. You certainly don’t have the same genetics or medical considerations. And it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that the way your body responds to nutritional changes, changes in your exercise habits, weight loss medications like Ozempic (semaglutide) or Zepbound (tirzepatide), and other lifestyle changes is going to vary based on factors like these and others.

According to Dr. Michael Snyder of FuturHealth, “That’s why it pays to get the help of nutritional and weight loss consultants, who can not only help you decide whether losing weight is a good idea, but also help you build and follow the strategies necessary to improve your health and fitness.”

Ultimately, there is no universal answer here because there is no singular, universal representative person. Health and fitness answers are always going to look a little different, based on who’s asking the questions.

Why Losing Weight Is (Often) a Good Thing

For many people, losing weight is associated with a host of health benefits. In general, existing at a lower weight is better than existing at a higher weight, although there are some extremes where this is no longer the case.

There are many benefits associated with being a healthy weight:

·       Heart health and circulation. Extra weight has a negative impact on your heart health and circulation. If left unchecked, it could lead you to develop heart disease, circulatory disorders, and other problems. Excessive weight is also associated with poor nutritional and exercise habits, which can make your heart health and circulation even worse.

·       Easier movement. People who weigh less are generally much more mobile, for reasons that should be obvious. In the same way it takes more effort to transport something that weighs 50 pounds than it does to transport something that’s 30 pounds, it’s much easier for your muscles and skeleton to transport a body of lower weight. This makes you faster, more agile, and nimbler.

·       Better sleep. Being overweight or obese can introduce additional difficulties related to sleep habits. And if you’re not able to sleep well, you’re probably going to suffer a host of secondary complications.

·       More energy. Many people who lose weight find themselves with a much greater surplus of energy. There are several possible explanations for this, including less strain on your body on a regular basis, the secondary benefits of healthy eating, and a renewed sense of confidence and joy in your life. In any case, you’ll feel much more energized.

·       Less joint pain. People who are overweight are much more susceptible to joint pain, especially over the course of their lives. The less weight you have, the less strain you put on your joints, and the healthier they’ll remain as you age.

·       A better mood. In many cases, losing weight is associated with a better overall mood and more emotional stability. Again, there are many possible explanations for this effect.

·       Less susceptibility to health ailments. Being overweight or obese is a risk factor associated with thousands of different health complications and ailments, including some we’ve already referenced as well as diabetes, cancer, and common contagious illnesses. Losing weight decreases your risks across the board.

·       A longer lifespan. People of a healthy weight typically have longer lifespans. There are a variety of reasons for this, mostly related to the avoidance of health complications associated with excessive weight. If you want to live longer, consider dropping some of those extra pounds.

The Outer Limits

Of course, there are some outer limits associated with this broad generality. If you lose too much weight, your body could lose access to the nutrition it needs to remain healthy, and if you’re already at or under a healthy weight, you could do some real damage to your body by losing even more weight.

That said, it’s important to keep in mind that much of the Western world is affected by a long-standing obesity epidemic, and most of us have a distorted sense of what is normal or healthy. Most people in the developed world are now overweight, and could dramatically improve their health by losing some of that extra weight.

The answer to the question is no, it’s not always good for your health to lose weight. But for the vast majority of people, losing a little bit of weight (whether through hiring a dietitian, pursuing weight loss medication like Zepbound (tirzepatide), or working with a personal trainer) is a good thing – and could set you up for better health for years to come.