Not only can weight loss improve the way you look and feel, but weight loss can also improve your health.
Carrying excess body fat is a leading cause of preventable death throughout the world, and health authorities view it as one of the most critical public health problems of the 21st century.
Excess body fat is associated with a number of disease and negative health issues including:
heart and cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, sore joints, breathing difficulties during sleep, certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis, as well as self-esteem and self-image issues.
While most people realize that weight loss will help with many of these issues, it can be difficult to measure weight loss success as it applies to health.
How much weight loss is enough?
Most people would like a simple answer to how much weight they have to lose in order to decrease their risk of obesity related diseases.
Many doctors recommend complicated measurements like the Body Mass Index (BMI), which uses a combination of your weight and height to predict your overall health. Unfortunately not only is Body Mass Index a complicated equation for everyday use, but it also does not account the difference between lean body mass (like muscle and organs) and Fat mass.
A much easier and realistic health measurement that can be used to measure your weight loss success is simply your waist measurement.
Research shows that to decrease health risks associated with obesity your waist circumference should be less that one half of your height.
This measurement is an excellent predictor of overall body fatness, specifically measuring the dangerous visceral fat that surrounds your organs.
So to keep track of your health, always aim to have your waist circumference be no more than half of your height.
This one simple measurement will help you track your weight loss success and hopefully help decrease your risk of succumbing to obesity related diseases.
How to get a healthy waist measurement:
The key to maintaining a low waist circumference is to live a lifestyle that allows you to eat less while still enjoying the foods you eat.
Research has shown that exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, however it is not the easiest or most effective way to lose weight.
For any weight loss plan, diet should always be your number one priority.
For many people, Eat Stop Eat has proven to be the easiest and most effective way to eat for weight loss and to maintain a healthy waist measurement.
Combining Eat Stop Eat with a consistent weight training program is you best choice for long lasting weight loss and to keep a healthy waist measurement.
