Do you have trouble losing weight? Do you have low energy, illnesses, or signs of aging? If your answer is ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, you might need to re-evaluate your health status. According to the World Health Organization, globally, 13% of adults are overweight and obese, and suffer from lethargy, sleep issues, slower metabolism, accelerated aging, and chronic weight-related illnesses.
Many adults suffer from health issues at a very early age. Generally, most of them undergo a strict weight loss journey, with no definite outcomes. Various factors such as age, genetic susceptibilities, lifestyle issues, and dietary habits are the primary stimulators of gaining excessive weight. However, weight loss and maintenance are easier to manage if healthier habits are encouraged from a young age.
Healthy choices like exercise and diet control can work to prevent later issues in adulthood. Individuals that make smart lifestyle choices at a young age stick to them even during their adulthood. Such individuals tend to feel motivated, fresh, and active in their everyday chores. It saves them from various chronic illnesses and boosts their metabolism for a healthy life. It is worth mentioning that losing excessive weight and adopting healthy habits could be more challenging with the growing age. As individuals go through hormonal changes, stress and other related factors disrupt their journey towards a healthy transition.
This article presents five significant benefits of weight management from an early age.
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You Will Be More Active
Children and young adults that play sports and exercise frequently tend to stay fitter than children with sedentary lifestyles. An unhealthy lifestyle often breeds lethargy and fatigue. An active lifestyle, on the other hand, can increase energy levels. This energy can do wonders. For instance, it can help boost your metabolism, make you more active, and make exercise and fitness easier for you later in your life. Physical activity can even increase endorphin levels and give you a positive outlook on life.
You might be skeptical about this. Can moving around really do all this? Physical activity is a crucial preventive indicator of adult health. As an initiative to health education, medical experts emphasize the effects of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle in different education programs including, medical science courses, online healthcare degrees, and nursing programs.
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You Will Save Your Heart
Chronic obesity often leads to heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, resulting in weak metabolism and reduced life expectancy. The Center for Disease Control even reported that cardiovascular illnesses are the highest cause of death in the United States. Having trouble managing your weight can be deadly.
Hence encouraging exercise and diet changes at a young age can potentially save millions of lives. Healthy calorie consumption and generous exercise regimens can put you on the path to avoid being one of the 655,000 people who die every year from heart-related complications.
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You Will Not Be Obese
Obesity occurs when you consume empty calories, sugar, and fat content and do not burn off the excess calories. All unburned calories then end up as fat in different areas of your body. Childhood obesity has a high correlation to adult obesity and health risk factors, as reported by the CDC. Weight loss and management in adulthood can be more effortless if you start at a young age.
A healthy childhood lifestyle would mean consuming more fiber, protein, and vitamins and discouraging fatty, sugary, and processed foods. Eating healthy and exercising regularly may prevent any fat buildup resulting in reduced consequences on health.
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You Will Not Get Sick
Well, you might get sick at any point in your life, but you will potentially stave off chronic and deadly illnesses. For instance, high blood pressure can lead to strokes, deaths, blood clots, and heart issues. According to the WHO, high cholesterol kills 2.6 million deaths per year.
Thus, weight management from a young age prevents fat deposits that have the potential to derail your life. If you have are a new mom, then start tracking your child’s dietary habits. Also, it is better to plan a diet chart to limit sugar and fat intake in your family. Keeping a diet chart is vital to ensure a healthy and happy lifestyle for your family. According to research, a healthier lifestyle increases your life expectancy by 31%.
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You Will Feel Better
Weight problems don’t just affect your physical body but also take a toll on your mental health. Overweight people have higher levels of anxiety and depression. They also report issues such as mood swings, fatigue, and loss of sleep.
Some mental health issues might be unrelated to weight. However, balanced weight and higher physical activity play a crucial role in elevating your moods. Regular exercise can improve mental stimulation because it increases blood flows and releases endorphins. Children who spend time exercising can turn into happier and healthier adults. They might also have fewer issues with hypersomnia or daytime fatigue.
Final Takeaway
Weight management becomes difficult if children continue to follow an unhealthy lifestyle. It is important to remain cautious about your child’s health from the beginning, as obesity is not only restricted to adults only. Many children, being the victim of childhood obesity, develop different diseases such as type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, blood pressure, etc. However, we hope this article has helped you realize the importance of weight management at a young age.
