Losing weight is the talk of the town ever since, but for some people losing weight is a challenge. Weight loss and maintaining weight are vital for overall health and help you avoid and treat various diseases and conditions. 

The good news is that there are many other factors to consider improving your weight loss success chances. To help you with weight loss, let’s discover the different factors that impact your chances of losing weight. 

Diet

Many people rely on dieting if they want to lose weight, and that’s fine. However, the amount and quality of food you consume have a significant effect on your weight. Better choose a diet that will fill the needs of your body.

In addition to that, we all know that eating unhealthy foods will create havoc in our body in so many ways, from mild to severe damages. It’s also important to pay attention to how you eat, which is why we recommend listening to your body and regularly eating during the day to avoid emotional and overeating eating for the whole day.

Genetics

A person’s genetics plays a vital role in our whole existence. Ever wonder why people have different results to diets and exercise? It is because part of your ability to lose weight is embedded in your DNA. Don’t be surprised if your diet or workout doesn’t give you the results you wanted, maybe because it’s not for you. 

To cement this thought, a study in Harvard stated that each person’s genes have a different degree of impact on their weight. For example, some people’s genes are responsible for 10% of their weight gain and loss, while others’ genes can be responsible for up to 90% of their weight gain and loss. 

And if your genes have such a strong influence on your body weight, you can always beat the odds by leading a balanced lifestyle.

Eating Behavior

Food choices are complicated decisions influenced by consumer interest in health, safety, the environment, and preferences of taste, cost, and convenience.

It’s true that what you eat matters, but it’s also essential to know how, when, and where you’re eating. The ultimate silver bullet to permanent weight loss is behavior management strategies that help you balance your eating habits.

However, changing your eating behavior requires time and dedication. To make the necessary progress, you must view it differently, reject self-defeating thoughts and actions, and substitute them with positive activities that assist you in gaining self-control.

Age

Our bodies don’t react to weight loss attempts in the same way they used to as we get older. Why? It is because some people are less active when they grow old. Others are experiencing illnesses like arthritis that might hinder them from moving freely.

However, this is a case-to-case basis. Since bodyweight is heavily affected by your genetic structure, level of physical activity, and food preferences, not everyone will become overweight as they age.

For that reason, it is advisable to begin working for physical fitness at a young age. It’s important to remember that maintaining weight is more accessible than losing weight.

Medication

A disclaimer, each of us is different in some ways, so not everyone is affected by this factor. Medications that trigger weight gain can be a complex topic to tackle, mainly since everyone’s body responds differently to them. 

Some medications can cause carb cravings. Other potential drug side effects include:

• A heightened appetite.
• A slowed metabolism.
• Increased body fat storage.
• A decreased resistance to exercise.

If you feel like you’re gaining weight while on medication and it’s concerning you, you can talk to your doctor about it.

Insulin Sensitivity

Insulin lowers blood sugar levels by transporting glucose from the bloodstream to nearby cells, where it can be used as fuel or processed as body fat. However, If a person’s insulin sensitivity is poor, they’ll need more insulin to keep their blood sugar (glucose) levels in check.

Furthermore, insulin sensitivity occurs when the walls of cells in the body that need glucose for energy significantly reduce insulin sensitivity. It makes it more difficult for the cells to get the glucose they need through the cell wall.

This glucose then stays in the bloodstream, causing elevated blood sugar levels, which the liver must control. This excess sugar is converted to fat once it reaches the liver. Fat cells exit the liver via the bloodstream, causing weight gain. If this isn’t addressed, it may lead to obesity and can lead to type 2 diabetes.

Sleeping Habits

Sleeping, or resting in general, is essential to have a healthy body. For a variety of reasons, there is a connection between sleep and weight gain. When you don’t get enough sleep and need more energy, you might reach for a lot of food to make up for the lack of sleep.

Furthermore, if you want to lose weight, the first move is usually to eat fewer calories. However, if your appetite hormones (ghrelin and leptin) are out of whack, you might be eating more than your body needs, which can lead to more calories resulting in weight gain.

As much as possible, you should sleep for about 7 to 9 hours every day to avoid the risks of binge eating and risking your body for possible severe illnesses in the future. 

Physical Activity

Physical activity, such as regular exercise or by just being active doing something, is the most known factor to impact losing weight. Physical exercise aids weight management by allowing you to burn calories that would otherwise be stored as fat.

More physical activity boosts the number of calories the body uses for energy or “burns off” while you’re trying to lose weight. A “calorie deficit” is created when you burn calories through physical activity while also decreasing the calories you consume, which results in weight loss.

Try walking for 30 minutes if you can, or do some extreme workouts at the gym. However, remember that you have to find time for your body to recover from any physical activity you perform for you to lose weight and gain muscles.

Takeaway

The purpose of losing weight is not just to look good but also to feel good. As mentioned, several factors impact losing weight. If you have trouble losing weight while keeping a healthy diet and regular exercise, then you might want to consider consulting your doctor to have a tailored solution for your specific needs.