Why Less is More

The pants that you were able to fit in 2 months ago seem a lot tighter now? Let’s be honest, working from home has allowed us to save plenty of time and energy on the road, but at the same time, we are also snacking and binge eating more than ever.  That bag of chips may be so scrumptious but have you ever thought about how that too could make you put on an extra pound and increase the risks of major health problems?

Here are some examples of how weight gain could possibly affect your health:

1.      Excessive weight is also associated with a higher risk of cancers.¹

2.      Excessive weight is at greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.²

3.      Excess weight gain also is also the major cause of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.³

Truth is, you do not need to lose hundreds of pounds to enjoy healthier life.

Here are some tips for healthy weight loss:

1.      Set realistic goals. You got to realise that even small amounts of weight loss can have significant health benefits and can help to set you on a path to a healthier future.

2.      Reduce calorie intakes. It means consuming less calories than your body can burn, creating what we call-calorie deficit. Yes, as easy as this.

3.      Exercise regularly. Combining exercise with a healthy diet is a more effective way to lose weight than depending on calorie restriction alone. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that all adults should do at least 150 minutes a week (5 days x 30 minutes/day) of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes/week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity for substantial health benefits.⁴

As irony as it may sound, sometimes in life the simplicity of having less can actually create a life of more, in this case a lower and healthier weight allows you enjoy more health benefits!

References:

1.       National Cancer Institute. (2017, January 17). Obesity and Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/obesity/obesity-fact-sheet

2.       Diabetes UK. (2019, January 15). Diabetes and Obesity. Retrieved from https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-and-obesity.html

3.       Hall, J. E., do Carmo, J. M., da Silva, A. A., Wang, Z., & Hall, M. E. (2015, March 13). Obesity-induced Hypertension. Circulation Research.

4.       U.S Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition