Even Moderate Weight Loss Benefits Your Heart: Here's How

Now that January has come to a close, many people are realizing that their New Year's resolution to lose weight might be a loftier goal than they’d previously thought. Don’t give up; even if you’re struggling to keep up with your diet and exercise plan, you shouldn’t discount any improvements you’ve made.

At Regenerative MedSpa of Buckhead in Atlanta, Georgia, our team of body wellness and anti-aging specialists provides guidance and medical weight loss support to help you improve your health. February is American Heart Month, and we’re putting a spotlight on the cardiovascular benefits of weight loss, even if you haven’t yet hit your target weight.   

Cardiovascular benefits of moderate weight loss 

People often become discouraged during their weight loss journey because they can’t lose “enough” weight, or aren’t losing it as quickly as they’d like to. This mindset prevents you from seeing the progress you’ve made, causing you to slide back into bad habits. 

Even if you haven’t lost a dramatic or noticeable amount of weight, know that every pound lost takes pressure off your joints and benefits your heart. In fact, losing just 5-10% of your body weight can significantly lower your risk of heart disease.

Moderate weight loss improves your cardiovascular health in three major ways: 

1. Better cholesterol levels

Your cholesterol levels affect build-up in your blood vessels. A heart-healthy diet increases the number of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) while lowering triglyceride levels and reducing the number of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). Weight loss achieved through such a diet can help improve your vascular health and reduce pressure on your heart. 

2. Reduced risk of diabetic complications 

Whether you have diabetes or you’re trying to avoid developing it, proper dieting and exercise to control your weight keep your blood sugar in check. This reduces the risk of diabetic complications, including heart disease, nerve damage, slow healing, and retinopathy. If you're diabetic, your risk for heart disease doubles, so keeping the pounds off is critical to maintaining heart health.

3. Lower blood pressure

You can have high blood pressure for years before you begin experiencing symptoms, and sometimes the signs can come too late. Chronic hypertension causes progressive damage to your cardiovascular system, contributing to life-threatening events like heart attack or stroke. Luckily, lifestyle changes and medication can keep your blood pressure within healthy limits. 

If you aren’t losing weight as fast as you wish you were, don’t give up; your efforts still have a considerable impact on your heart health. Plus, you can get help with weight loss from our team of experienced medical weight loss specialists.

To learn more and explore your options for safe and healthy medical weight loss, schedule a consultation by calling 404-816-8557 or by requesting an appointment online.