weight loss and restless leg syndrome

An article came out yesterday showing the association of being overweight with developing restless leg syndrome. For those of you not familiar with this syndrome, the affected person will notice, especially at night, movement of the lower extremities in a jerking type of fashion. This can sometimes take place at the dinner table and can be very embarrassing to the affected person. At nighttime, the patient's bed partner will be awakened by the leg jerking. There are medications such as Requip that are used for RLS but a number of side effects can occur.

We all know the "obvious" medical conditions associated with being overweight, i.e. heart disease, stroke, diabetes, etc., but there are a number of other conditions that will adversely affect quality of life, such as sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome. Also, do not forget that breast, colon, and pancreatic cancer rates are increased by being overweight.

Your choice to lose weight will make you healthier, prolong your life, and increase the quality of your life. Next time you are tempted with your favorite weight gaining food source, whether it be that bag of chips, the container of ice cream, popcorn, nightly glass of wine, ask yourself whether this "sweet, treat or goodie" (and you all know i DESPISE those words when attached to food) will make you healthier, prolong your life, etc. A true "treat" is something that will i fact make you healthier and thereby happier.