Being overweight is one of the most common health problems in the U.S. Unfortunately, the stigmas around overweight people tend to undermine the important discussion around health and safety. Obesity is an incredibly harmful health condition. It can lead to a heart attack, Type 2 diabetes, and stroke.
An obese weight chart can attempt to give you an estimate of the weights that are considered too heavy. You still need a professional opinion about your weight, though. Your doctor is the only person who has the authority to give you an evaluation of your diet and your exercise regimen.
With this insight, obese people can overcome the struggles that being overweight presents. Losing weight and becoming healthier will have immense mental and physical benefits. We’ll talk about some of the most obvious reasons to initiate a lifestyle change, including the overlooked benefits like getting better life insurance.
#1 – Doing Simple Activities Is Easier
Being overweight or obese can make it difficult to do even the most simple activities. Finding clothes that fit comfortably is a hard task to fulfill.
Weight and excess fat are usually associated with having a harder time breathing. This can make a walk up the stairs or a trip to the meeting room at work more difficult than it has to be. If you make simple changes in your diet and exercise regime, you may be able to lose even a few pounds, which will make these things easier to do throughout the day.
Drinking more water, substituting fruit for a candy bar, and getting more sleep at night are all healthy weight loss habits that can easily be integrated into even the most resistant person’s schedule. Seeing results will also motivate you to continue changing your lifestyle. It shouldn’t be hard to move around and enjoy the physical activities we do in life.
#2 – You Will Live Longer
Losing weight should theoretically help you avoid some of the worst health issues that humans are plagued by. Hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, risk of stroke, and sleep apnea are all serious problems that can be alleviated by losing some weight. If you avoid these health issues, it will allow you to live a longer and more fulfilling life.
Obesity is stressful on the loved ones of the overweight person, too. People shouldn’t have to worry about whether an obese family member will be around to see big events like weddings, graduations, and retirements. Losing weight will help not only the victim of obesity but also everyone that is in that person’s social circle.
Many obese people may not have the desire to think about the morbid consequences of their weight, and that is understandable. Framing the argument in a positive way can help to encourage weight loss. Talking about the good things that will happen after losing weight, like living longer, is the best motivation to lose weight.
#3 – You Can Get Better Life Insurance
Life insurance is not something anybody wants to think about. Despite this, it is a very important aspect of taking care of your family’s financial future. Most insurance companies will increase the rates of obese people dramatically. There are many factors that contribute to the life insurance policy of an obese person beyond their weight, though.
If you are an obese person who doesn’t have any other underlying issues, this is a great thing. An obese person who also has Type 2 diabetes and hypertension likely will not qualify for an insurance package. This can then compound with other demographic information, such as being an undocumented immigrant, making it even harder to get life insurance.
Body mass index (BMI) is an important measurement for many insurance companies when determining rates. They will look for the BMI to be in a certain range. If it is not in the preferred range, they will then look if it is in the standard range, which gives more leeway.
Being outside of both of these ranges might, unfortunately, eliminate the possibility of receiving a life insurance package. BMI is a flawed scale, though, as muscular athletes have high BMIs. The measurement doesn’t take into account muscle mass, age, or other factors like gender.
Losing weight will definitely improve your chances of getting life insurance. It will also decrease the risk factors for your family having to cash out on the insurance because you will hopefully live a long life.
#4 – Your Self Image Will Improve
Obesity is associated with a negative body image. People are constantly looking at obese people and judging them for a variety of things, from their choices to their drive to succeed.
This can lead to massive mental health problems if not addressed. Self-esteem and confidence can be very low in overweight people, and it is important to think about how losing weight can improve this image.
This isn’t to say that obese people shouldn’t find themselves attractive in their overweight state. Beauty should always come from the inside rather than the outside. This point is more about how losing weight will prove to obese people that they have the drive and perseverance to overcome their obstacles.
They will look in the mirror and see that they are strong. They’ve accomplished something that most people doubted they could do.
#5 – Finding a Job Will Be Easier
This is related to the body image issue. It can be very hard for obese people to find employment compared to their skinnier competition. HR representatives and employers sometimes judge the character traits of prospective employees by how they look. Being obese may mean to them that the person has no discipline and is not a good candidate.
This is completely unfair, but it is also a reality. There are also not many diversity laws that prohibit discrimination against overweight people. It is one of the most stigmatized traits in the working world to be overweight. Studies have shown women lose 2% of their salary for every six pounds of weight gained. Losing weight will make this go away for the obese person.
Hopefully, you have seen the myriad of ways that losing weight will benefit you if you are obese. This can range from physical all the way to mental and emotional benefits. In the meantime, there is no reason not to love yourself the way you are.
The Rewards of the Weight Loss Journey
It can be very difficult to lose weight, but it’s something well worth completing. Be patient with yourself during the weight loss journey and you should come out the other side feeling strong and proud. You’ll reflect and be able to help others in their weight loss experiences in the future.
