Weight loss can be a pain in the back.
And for millions of Americans, that’s literally the case. Losing weight can often feel like a hamster on a wheel. Go, go, go, with no end in sight. In our fast-paced, rat race-like lifestyle the goingness of it all has led to heavy burdens. But, chiropractors and regular patients of chiropractors have known for a long time something many people haven’t…that chiropractic care is a major game-changer when it comes to losing weight naturally.
What’s holding you back?
It’s true. The relationship between pain relief and weight loss seems common knowledge but is surprising to many.
Studies have shown that the rise in weight gain has consistently been associated with increased pain, including back pain, headaches, and knee pain. The problem is when the body takes on more weight the lower half, your knees, back and hips bear most of the burden. This causes the bones to rub together triggering pain and swelling. And in order to compensate, your spine becomes more stressed which can often cause it to take on an unnatural curve.
How are chronic pain and being overweight related?
To understand how pain relief and weight loss are linked, we need to first understand how joint pain and weight gain work.
Researchers have found that there are two common groups of people who have trouble losing weight:
Group A are people who, due to constant, incessant pain, have less range of motion and therefore no longer exercise and after a while lose the will to try. Over time, they begin to gain weight due to physical inactivity and poor sleep patterns, which in many cases leads to depression, low self-esteem and coping mechanisms, like seeking comfort in food and poor eating habits.
Group B are people who, due to any of the many factors including age, genetics, metabolism, environment, lifestyle, were overweight first and then began experiencing pain as a result. Over a period of time, the strain on the joints begins to lead to the same symptoms as our folks over in Group A. Chronic, persistent, debilitating pain. This causes the joints to break down faster and might even change their shape and the way you stand, sit or walk.
A study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information has shown that people who are overweight or obese are four times more likely to experience chronic joint pain than those who aren’t.
With 73% of adults in the US being overweight or obese, chronic pain isn’t the only condition being linked to obesity, but also high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, heart disease and much more.
Wait, so chiropractic is more than just neck pain, back pain and headaches?
We know you’re thinking…what does chiropractic have to do with losing weight?
The answer rests in science. Balancing the nervous system has been highly effective in helping lose body fat. But, how?
Your nervous system controls everything in your body including, all of the hormones that science has shown regulates fat loss and muscle gain. If your spine is misaligned, your nervous system is put into a stress response state aka your fight or flight. This can slow your metabolism and affect your body’s ability to burn body fat especially in problem areas like the belly, hips and arms.
Spinal misalignments can also hinder your ability to lose weight by:
- Stopping important information from reaching the brain, such as hunger cues
- Causing chronic pain
- Causing limited range of motion
- Increasing stress on the body
Many who have a hard time losing weight don’t usually attribute stress on the body to be a contributing factor.
Additionally, those who struggle with pain management are often on pain medications which have been frequently linked to weight gain.
How can chiropractic help? Less stress, less weight
When your spine is adjusted you will not only feel pain relief, but can also experience:
- Opening nerve communication to your brain so you have a better idea of when you need to eat and when to stop eating
- Moving your body the way you love without pain
- More energy and ability to do the basics again
- A higher likelihood of making healthy choices
- Improved quality of your life
- Lower your blood pressure
- Improved cholesterol levels
- Less stress
- More confidence
Chiropractic looks at weight loss holistically so that you achieve lasting, sustainable results naturally. Chiropractic is about complete, total wellness through all aspects of your life. Getting you out of pain gets you back into living your life to the highest level. And everyone deserves that.
At Petett Chiropractic we’re here to support you, answer your questions, and help you on your journey to finding the healthiest version of you possible. With just a couple of adjustments you can start feeling healthier, and most importantly, healed from the inside out.
Give us a call today to start your weight loss journey at 425-277-2225!