Many people want to lose weight in order to look better. But losing weight can help your body in more critical ways than just looks.

Most of you know that obesity is a leading cause of heart disease, but you may not realize just how many ways that weight endangers your heart.

Excess weight leads to hardening of the arteries and buildup of plaque; both of those lead to heart disease. Obesity changes your body’s hormones, often causing insulin resistance. This leads to diabetes which leads to heart disease. Overweight people are more likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a major risk factor for - you guessed it - heart disease.

From life-threatening strokes to embarrassing growth of female facial hair, the side effects of even a few extra pounds are countless.

The Three Pillars of Weight Loss

Successful weight loss comes from diet, exercise, and sleep.

Diet doesn’t mean skipping meals or fad weight loss schemes. It means adopting healthy eating habits at every meal. Don’t order a diet soda with your hamburger - order a salad instead of the hamburger.

Study after study has shown that even a healthy diet must be combined with regular exercise. You don’t have to lift weights or run a marathon. Walk at lunch or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Small changes can make a big difference.

You might be surprised that the most important element of weight loss isn’t diet or exercise - it’s sleep. An article at Medical News Today documents a study that followed 70,000 women over 16 years and found that those who slept better had healthier weight control than poor sleepers, even if those poor sleepers consumed fewer calories.

It’s Never Too Late

Whether you are in your 20s or your 80s, it’s always a good time for healthy changes. Talk to your doctor about creating a sensible program of diet and exercise.

At IBD Insurance Services, we can help. As an authorized reseller of BCBSNC we provide affordable NC health insurance. For example, did you know that North Carolina residents under BCBSNC get 6 free visits to a dietician?

Contact one of our friendly representatives and let us help you start on the road to good health.

Tags: Healthy Eating, Healthy Living //