Why Is It Important to Maintain a Healthy
Weight

Your weight is undeniably connected to your body image and self-esteem, but can you answer why is it important to maintain a healthy weight? First, you must determine whether you are currently at a healthy weight or not. Calculate your BMI to determine if your weight is in the healthy range. You may need to lose some weight if you are above this range.

The main reason to maintain a healthy weight is that being overweight can increase your risk for a multitude of health problems. According to the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG), “an estimated 300,000 deaths per year may be attributable to obesity.”

Carrying around extra weight is taxing for your heart. If you are overweight, your risk of heart disease is much higher than if you maintain a healthy weight. You are twice as likely to have high blood pressure if you are obese. Not surprisingly, being overweight can also increase your risk for high cholesterol. Although genetics play a role in your chance of developing heart disease, the best prevention is maintaining a healthy weight.

Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity. In fact, 80 percent of those with diabetes are overweight or obese, according to the OSG. Even a relatively small weight gain—under 20 pounds—can double your risk of developing diabetes compared to someone who is at a healthy weight.

Obesity can even contribute to certain types of cancer, such as prostate, kidney, colon, gall bladder, uterine and postmenopausal breast cancer. Women who gain more than 20 pounds throughout adulthood double their chances of getting postmenopausal breast cancer, according to the OSG.

Extra weight puts stress on your joints, such as hips, knees and ankles, and increases your risk for arthritis. It can cause breathing problems such as asthma or sleep apnea. For women, obesity can cause reproductive complications such as gestational diabetes, problems with delivery and birth defects.

By maintaining a healthy weight, you will not only prevent life-threatening diseases and complications, you will also have more energy to enjoy your hobbies, perform your job, play with your pets and/or children, or simply complete everyday tasks around the house.

It is an awful feeling to pull your jeans on, only for them to feel tighter than usual. Having to wear your “fat jeans” can put a damper on your day. Conversely, it’s no secret that when you feel good about yourself—including your weight—you are more confident and self-assured. However, it is important, especially for women, to have a realistic perspective on what constitutes a healthy weight, which doesn’t necessarily mean model-thin. While the possibility of health problems should be the main incentive for most people to watch their weight, many feel that having a positive body image is why it is important to maintain a healthy weight.

It’s no surprise that eating healthy foods is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy weight. You should avoid fad diets, however, called “yo-yo dieting” for a reason: you lose a large amount of weight quickly and then regain it twice as fast. These sudden fluctuations are not healthy for your body, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy weight consistently.

Aside from eating healthfully, adequate exercise plays a large role in helping you maintain a healthy weight. Most people who successfully maintain their weight do so by making exercise an important part of their lives. Cardiovascular activity keeps your heart healthy, and strength training improves bone and joint health.

By practicing healthy habits including eating a healthy diet and exercising, you can increase your confidence and improve your health all at once. It is important to maintain a healthy weight because you owe it to yourself as well as those who care about you.

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