Why Weight Matters
According to endocrinologist Dr. Akshay Jain, there is one common factor at the root of many chronic conditions “and that common factor is obesity.” He explains that individuals may not recognize the consequences of obesity until it manifests through other health complications such as high blood pressure, cholesterol imbalances, or diabetes.
“Obesity increases the risk of strokes, cognitive imbalance, vision abnormalities, heart attacks, irregular heartbeat… cancers… respiratory problems… infertility, both in men and in women… nerve issues, and kidney problems,” Dr. Jain says. “It’s a whole long list.”
To Dr. Jain’s point, obesity is the root cause of 237 health conditions and 22 types of cancer according to weight expert Dr. Sandra Christensen. Reaching a healthier weight can lower your risk of developing heart disease (including having a heart attack or stroke), type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, digestive problems, osteoarthritis, liver disease, osteoarthritis, and several types of cancer.
How Much Weight Loss Makes a Difference?
The good news: “You don’t necessarily need to lose a lot of weight to see potential benefits in your health,” says Dr. Jain. “Even losing 5 – 10% of your body weight can jumpstart a whole slew of health benefits.” These benefits can include needing fewer medications for diabetes, blood pressure, or cholesterol, improved sleep, less joint pain, better mobility and improvements in conditions like PCOS.
That means that if someone weighs 200 pounds, losing just 10 to 20 pounds can have a meaningful impact on overall health. With greater weight loss—10% or more—the benefits multiply, and at 15% or more, “people might even go into remission as far as their type 2 diabetes is concerned.”
The Quality of Weight Loss Matters
Dr. Jain cautions against crash diets: “If we are nutritionally starving ourselves, that may lead to a little bit of weight loss, but it also leads to muscle wasting.” Instead, the goal should be sustainable lifestyle changes and medical treatments where necessary that support long-term health.
“What we see is just the tip of the iceberg,” he adds. Even if a person already has conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, addressing obesity is still crucial: “Otherwise these things can snowball into something that is way more disastrous.”
Sustainable Support Is Key
Obesity is now understood as a chronic condition. “We have to manage it just like any other disease,” Dr. Jain emphasizes. He encourages partnering with your healthcare professional to find a personalized and sustainable path to better health—whether through nutrition, exercise, behavioral support, medications, or surgery.
“The first try may not always be successful… But that’s a process of elimination. Not giving up is the key.”
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The medical information on My Weight – What To Know’s website is provided as an information resource only. The content is not in any way intended to be nor should you rely on it as a substitute for professional medical evaluation, diagnosis, advice and treatment.
