5 Key Benefits of Weight Loss
July 1, 2025
5 Key Benefits of Weight Loss: A Primary Care Provider’s Guide to Better Health
By: Dara Wotherspoon, PA-C
Family Medicine Physician Assistant at PrimeCare Family Care
As a primary care provider, I work with patients to navigate their health on a daily basis from acute problems and preventive medicine to chronic medical condition management. Patients often express their struggles making lifestyle changes to promote weight loss and maintain a healthier weight. This can be related to many factors: sedentary jobs, long commute times, busy schedules, poor mental health, stress, sleep difficulties, and the list could go on and on. There are 5 key benefits of weight reduction that I discuss with patients.
1. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases:
Excess weight can significantly increase the risk for development of hormonal imbalances, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, certain cancers, and stroke. A reduction in weight and adipose tissue can reduce risk of developing these conditions and may even reverse or slow the progression of these conditions in patients.
2. Decreased Joint Pain:
Increased weight can placed stress on joints, particularly the knees and hips, which leads to pain and discomfort resulting in decrease mobility. Reducing weight can relieve the pressure on joints, increase mobility, and improve pain for patients with conditions like osteoarthritis.
3. Better Sleep Quality:
A major risk factor for sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea is obesity. Disruptions in sleep can cause chronic fatigue and increase risk for heart disease, arrhythmias, stroke, diabetes, cognitive decline, depression, car accidents, and shortened lifespan. Weight loss can improve sleep pattern and may potentially resolve obstructive sleep apnea.
4. Increased Energy:
Weight reduction can increase patients ability to move and to be more active. The more that patients increase physical activity the more energetic they can feel and the easier it will be to be active throughout the day and burn calories.
5. Improved Mental Health:
Weight loss can also be beneficial for mental health by increasing self-esteem, creating positive body image, and helping with mood. Patients who lose weight often report reduced anxiety and depression as well as increased motivation to continue healthy lifestyle habits.
If you have been thinking about embarking on a weight loss journey this year, as it’s often said, there’s no better time than the present and taking the first step now can make a significant difference in your overall well-being. Consulting with your Primary Care Provider (PCP) before starting a new health or fitness plan is a great place to start. Your PCP can provide you with personalized advice based on your medical history and current medical conditions as well as discuss options for weight loss assistance with nutritional and fitness counseling, medication management, and bariatric surgery.
