EASIER BREATHING
Carrying extra weight is no easy feat, and it puts stress on virtually every part of your body, from your joints to your lungs. If you find yourself panting after a flight of stairs, losing weight can help you increase your cardiovascular health and breathe easier.
A HEALTHIER BRAIN
Fighting off cognitive decline as you age could be as simple as shedding a few pounds now. Research conducted on candidates for bariatric surgery suggests that losing weight can help improve the health of the brain and allow once-obese individuals to increase their executive functioning capacity.
IMPROVED FERTILITY
If you’re trying to conceive, the best thing you can do to improve your chances is to shed a few pounds. Lowering your weight now can also help you have an easier pregnancy and deliver your baby with less need for medical intervention.
INCREASED CONFIDENCE
Being comfortable in your own skin is one of the best feelings there is, but in an appearance-conscious society, being overweight and obese can seriously hinder your ability to feel good about yourself. Research suggests that teenagers struggling with their weight are significantly more prone to depression, anxiety, and confidence issues, but losing weight may help.
REDUCED RISK OF DEPRESSION
Depression can make even formerly pleasurable activities feel like an uphill battle. However, weight loss might be the key to lifting that fog. Research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine reveals that severely obese individuals suffering from depression had improvements in their symptoms when they slimmed down.