Obesity and weight loss struggles are plaguing Americans. These topics are ever-present on television and featured in print media, due to the extreme difficulty so many experience trying to manage exercise, weight, and diet.
Many fad diets and exercise products promise a quick fix, but the statistics remain dire. The American Heart Association says about 40% of adult Americans are considered obese, while 16% of children under 16 years of age are in the same condition.
However, promising research has suggested that greater mobility can contribute to weight loss and vice versa. Get out your yoga mats and take a look at the benefits of simply moving around.
Use It or Lose It
Obesity can make it difficult and even impossible to perform some of the most basic tasks, such as climbing stairs or bending over to tie our shoelaces. Our daily lives can be dramatically affected by our weight and choices.
In 2012, the National Institute of Health released a study that linked weight loss to better mobility, even as adults age. Sedentary lifestyles contribute to muscle atrophy, which increases your risk of mobility loss.
If you’re not exercising on a regular basis, then consider starting today. Don’t put it off. Inactivity can lead to serious health issues such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, which can permanently affect your mobility.
Range of Motion
Fat can obstruct your body’s ability to move freely. As people gain weight, they find they can no longer reach as far, bend at acute angles, and take long strides.
The decreases in flexibility as you gain weight can be measured. The good news is that weight loss can lead back to greater range of motion. The increased mobility can make exercise easier to perform, and that results in more weight loss.
This is a positive cycle that you should explore, especially if you notice that your range of motion has been reduced due to weight gain. Regular chiropractic adjustments and daily stretching can reduce aches and pains, which will make your exercise sessions more fluid and painless.
It’s impossible to deny a strong link between increased mobility and weight loss. We must think critically about the future of our ability to move before we lose much of it because of obesity and old age.
You can take healing into your own hands by adjusting your diet, incorporating daily exercise into your schedule, and consulting with health professionals on increasing mobility.
Being mindful of your range of motion and weight can dramatically increase your quality of life.
