Fitting into smaller clothes. Improving heart health. Lowering blood pressure. These are some of the things that may come to mind when thinking about the benefits of losing weight. While these are definite perks of shedding unhealthy weight, they only scratch the surface.
Weight loss may come with many unexpected changes, too, such as sharper senses and better sleep.
At A&U Family Medicine in Sugar Land, Texas, Dr. Hammad Zaidi enjoys nothing more than when our patients discover some of the surprising benefits of losing weight. Here are four examples.
Food may taste different after losing weight. Evidence suggests that your sweet buds may become more sensitive after weight loss. Some people also report increased sensitivity to salty, sour, and bitter flavors.
Though the connection between weight loss and sharper taste buds isn’t clear, researchers theorize the change in hormones that regulate appetite may play a role. There’s also some evidence that weight loss may improve taste bud regeneration, enhancing your ability to detect and enjoy flavors.
Losing weight may also benefit the look and feel of your skin. The improvements in skin are often linked to better nutrition. Eating a diet filled with more nutrient-dense foods ensures that your skin gets all the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants it needs to function better.
Compounds in certain vegetables like broccoli, carrots, and kale may offer extra protection against skin-damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and enhance skin appearance.
If you’re struggling with infertility, losing weight may help. This is true for women and men. In women, weight loss benefits hormone balance, ovulation, and conception. In men, weight loss improves sperm motility and morphology as well as hormone levels.
You may have an easier time conceiving losing as little as 5% of your body weight.
Better balance and coordination are also potential benefits of losing weight. Carrying excess body weight puts more stress and strain on the weight-bearing joints, especially hips and knees, which can affect alignment. Getting to a healthier weight reduces that load, making it easier for you to maintain posture for improved balance.
Weight loss may also enhance your proprioception, which is the sense of where your body is in relation to the surrounding space. This enhancement may improve coordination, balance, and mobility while you go about your usual routine, reducing risk of falls and injuries.
Your body also moves more efficiently after losing weight and requires less effort when doing tasks that require coordination like dancing or walking briskly.
Losing weight benefits your body, mind, and spirit. If you’re struggling to reach your weight goals, we can help with our medical weight loss program. Call us today or click the book online button to schedule a consultation.
