What are the Other Benefits of Weight Loss? 

If you are on a diet, chances are good your motivation includes losing enough weight to 
look good in your swimsuit or fit into your tux in time for your best friend's wedding. 
Everyone wants to look good in their clothes, but there is more to losing weight than 
bikinis and beach bodies. Weight loss can help you avoid some cancers and live longer. 
It may also improve your sleep and enhance your sex life.

Why is this important? Because by focusing on the other benefits of weight loss, you 
change your mindset about your healthy habits. It increases your motivation and gives 
you something long-term to strive for. 

 
Health Benefits of Weight Loss
 
As you age, it is normal find yourself in the doctor's office. After a certain period of time, 
bones and joints weaken, but being overweight can exacerbate this problem. Your 
knees and back must accommodate the extra ten or fifteen pounds you have added to 
your frame. This extra weight will only hasten the deterioration of those joints.  
 
The extra pounds can also make it harder to breathe, which in turn can aggravate 
allergies, asthma and even sleep patterns. Overweight folks often develop sleep apnea 
and wake themselves up in the night snoring. While breathing machines can help 
eliminate snoring, sleep apnea often disappears on its own after a patient loses a 
significant number of pounds.  
 
Doctors have also linked being overweight to some types of cancer, high blood 
pressure, diabetes and heart disease. While you will definitely look better in your 
swimsuit if you lose a few pounds, chances are good you will feel better too. 

 
Mental Benefits of Weight Loss
 
The old saying "if you look good you feel good" is actually true. Losing weight boosts 
your confidence and your overall sense of wellbeing. It can also help your sex life. Extra 
weight depletes testosterone which diminishes sex drive. As you lose weight, the 
testosterone is often replenished along with your desire to have sex. Some doctors 
even believe women who have shed a few pounds have a better chance of getting 
pregnant.  
 
Last but not least, do not forget one of the worst parts of being overweight. If you must 
fly and cannot buckle your seat belt, the flight attendant is required by law to get a seat 
belt extender to help you securely buckle yourself into your seat. This is a humiliating 
experience that can ruin your trip before you have even left the ground. Something to 
think about before you reach for a second cookie.
