If you’re overweight, I don’t have to tell you that losing weight seems, at times, an insurmountable goal! In my field as a Dallas weight loss specialist, I speak with many individuals who find losing weight a daily struggle. Telling someone not to overeat, without assisting them in eating nutritiously as well, can be harmful even if a modicum of weight loss occurs. Though it’s often the motivation for many people, losing weight should be far more than merely a cosmetic issue. If a person isn’t feeling good, or isn’t getting what his or her body needs to function in a healthy way, then “looking good” is of little value. Work performance, family life, and social participation, in other words, the quality of a person’s life, is affected when he or she is unhealthy, regardless of weight issues. Living at a “healthy” weight means living a healthy lifestyle that includes good nutrition, sufficient hydration, and getting enough daily exercise.
Obviously, healthy weight loss is essential for active participation in all areas of your life. However, in this article I want to highlight one particular place in the body that is frequently the most visible indication of excess weight and obesity, and that the body’s midsection. It’s obvious that Santa Claus has weightier issues than merely getting presents under the tree at Christmas, and though he may have been jolly once a year, with that extra weight around his middle it is likely that he suffered from painful musculoskeletal problems the majority of the year! It might be helpfu, at this point, to tell you that I’m also a chiropractor. In my years of experience I have met many individuals who, just like Santa, carry too much weight in their midsection, often experience back pain that is moderate to severe.
Why do so many overweight people experience back pain? First of all, the spine was not designed to bear excessive weight. That’s not to say that the spine in not elegantly designed. But, as with every other internal system of the body, one of its functions is to compensate when asked to perform work that is repetitive and/or “unnatural.” As a person puts on extra pounds, the spine begins to distort and compress. This “reconfiguration” causes a lot of pain and discomfort. And, due to the spine’s extraordinary compensating features, in due time the excess weight will push the pelvis into a forward tilt as a counterbalance. This repositioning may pinch the sciatic nerve. In fact, most people who are overweight suffer from lower back pain that is often accompanied by sciatic nerve pain.
Weight loss takes the stress off of the spine and allows it to function normally. However, though excellent reasons to lose weight, decreasing back pain and sciatica are just two of the many healthy reasons to shed those extra pounds. As a healthcare professional, I am convinced that it is crucial that weight loss and weight maintenance come about in a natural, nutritious, and healthy way. However, as I previous stated, as a weight loss Dallas specialist, I understand that losing those extra pounds is both difficult and, if done in a healthy manner, takes time even with the best of intentions. The good news is, you don’t have to lose it alone. In many areas around the country, there are centers like mine, and doctors like me, who have the expertise to help you lose the weight you need to lose in a way that will help you to feel good as well as look good. Remember, every day your body is compensating for those extra pounds, so don’t wait to lose that weight! Your health is at risk. Don’t let excess weight impact the quality of your life any longer.