Final answer:
Maintaining weight loss has significant mental health benefits, including reduced stress, improved body image, and increased self-esteem, alongside physical benefits. Regular exercise and behavioral interventions are important for achieving and preserving these health benefits.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals who maintain weight loss report improvements not only in physical health but also in various aspects of mental health. This can include a reduction in stress, enhancement of body image, and boosting of self-esteem. These mental health benefits, along with the physical benefits such as increased cardiovascular and muscular fitness, bone density, and cognitive function, contribute to a better quality of life.
Being physically active through regular exercise also has a significant impact on reducing the risk of chronic illnesses while improving mental health by decreasing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and irritability. Staying sedentary, conversely, can increase the risk of mental health problems such as anxiety.
Behavioral interventions that include self-monitoring, healthy food choices, and increased physical activity are crucial for maintaining weight loss. These interventions can lead to at least 5 percent loss from baseline weight, which has been shown to improve cardiometabolic risk factors and overall well-being.