Читать книгу DASH Diet For Dummies - Sarah Samaan - Страница 48

Stepping on the scale may feel like an act of courage, and sometimes it’s just easier to convince yourself that maybe your body weight is only skin-deep. In truth, it’s much more than a cosmetic issue. People come in all sizes and shapes, and there’s a wide range of healthy body weights, but after you cross the threshold into obesity, you open yourself up to a host of medical problems.

High blood pressure is a serious but easily overlooked consequence of being overweight or obese. If you are overweight, consider a 10 percent body weight loss for improved blood pressure and improved health. Losing just 10 pounds, however, can lower blood pressure as much as 10 points. We’ve also personally seen clients and patients reduce the amount of — and even eliminate — blood pressure medications they take after they commit to losing weight.

Obesity doesn’t just help blood pressure rise. It also aggravates other issues related to high blood pressure. For instance, heavier people tend to retain more fluid, which can lead to swelling in the legs, hands, and face, and in severe cases, congestive heart failure. Additionally, the more weight you carry, the more sensitive you may become to salt, which in turn raises blood pressure.

It’s estimated that obesity shortens the average life span by 10 to 20 years. That’s because that extra weight also raises your risk for

 Arthritis

 Cancer

 Dementia

 Diabetes

 Heart disease

 Intestinal disease

 Lung disease

 Stroke

We tell you more about these serious consequences of body weight in Chapter 8.