WEIGHT LOSS

LET’S TALK ABOUT WEIGHT

Despite the widespread information and social media campaigns regarding weight loss management, the number of people being reported to be overweight and obese these days is still on the rise. CDC revealed that the US obesity prevalence in 2017 was 41.9%, where 1 in 5 children and more than 1 in 3 adults are being affected.

Obesity or being overweight increases the risk of developing a number of health conditions, like:

High blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are risk factors for heart disease.
Type 2 diabetes.
Breathing problems, such as asthma and sleep apnea.
Joint problems such as osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal discomfort.
Gallstones and gallbladder disease.
Many types of cancer.
Psychological problems such as anxiety and depression.
Low self-esteem and lower self-reported quality of life.
Social problems such as bullying and stigma.

So, what causes unintentional weight gain?

Eating highly processed foods. Examples of which are those from fast foods, microwave dinners, packaged snacks, and sugary drinks. They contain high levels of added sugars, preservatives, and saturated fats, while being deficient in protein, fiber, and vitamins. Because of the lack of protein, the body tries to balance nutrients by overeating.
Living a sedentary lifestyle. Physical activity helps burn the calories from the foods and drinks ingested. If a person is inactive, there will be more unused calories and those excess accumulate in the body as fats.
Not getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep affects hormone levels. They increase our hunger, appetite, and it also prevents one from feeling full after eating.
When stressed, our bodies produce high levels of the hormone cortisol which have been proven to increase the appetite.
Medical conditions/prescriptions. Some conditions known to affect weight are hypothyroidism, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), Cushing Syndrome, and Binge Eating Disorder (BED). Moreover, medications for epilepsy, diabetes, steroids, and others including some antidepressants and medicines for schizophrenia – can also contribute to weight gain.
There are rare conditions which can also lead to unintentional weight gain. Examples of these are Bardet-Biedl syndrome and Prader-Willi syndrome.

Talk to your doctor if ever you experience unintentional weight gain due to a certain medication or condition, or if you don’t know what probably is causing it.

Weight Loss

Losing weight occurs in 2 stages — an early, rapid weight loss stage, followed by a slower longer period of weight loss.

Stage 1 — Rapid weight loss. The first stage of weight loss is when you tend to lose the most weight, from carbs, proteins, and water. This usually happens within the first 4-6 weeks. The higher the starting weight, the quicker the weight loss.

Stage 2 — Slow weight loss. The weight loss here is at a much slower rate. It primarily comes from body fat, generally after 6 weeks and beyond. In this stage, you may experience a weight loss plateau, which means your weight stops changing. When you reach this phase, you may have lost all of the weight you will lose on your current diet and exercise plan. Talk with your health care provider or a registered dietitian about other ways to try if you are still not satisfied with the weight you lost.

To keep the weight off for long term, here are some tips you may want to consider doing:

Follow a healthy eating pattern. Cut out processed meals, snacks, and sugary foods on your diet. Focus instead on nutrient-dense, whole foods rich in fiber and protein. Drink water instead of calorie-rich beverages. Lastly, avoid getting “over-hungry”, and then overeating later in the day.
Get daily physical activity. Do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as dancing or brisk walking, every week. This does not need to be done all at one time, but it can be broken down into smaller periods. For example, you could exercise for 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week. Some people may need to talk to their healthcare provider before participating in this level of physical activity.
Monitor your weight. Keeping track of your weight when on a weight loss journey is important so that you can plan accordingly and adjust your diet and exercise plan as necessary. If you have gained a few pounds, get back on track quickly.
Prescription weight-loss drugs. If lifestyle changes don’t work, prescription weight- loss drugs may be the choice for you. Most of these prescriptions work by either making you feel less hungry or fuller, or some do both. Just know that you need to use prescription weight-loss drugs in addition to — not instead of — a healthy diet and exercise. Consult your doctor to know more about this option.

Here are some drugs approved for weight loss:

Bupropion-naltrexone (Contrave)
Liraglutide (Saxenda)
Orlistat (Xenical, Alli)
Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia)
Semaglutide (Wegovy)
Setmelanotide (Imcivree)

Weight loss surgery, also called bariatric surgery, is sometimes used to treat people who are severely obese. There are some criteria that need to be checked first to see if you can receive this type of surgery. In rare cases, it may be recommended as the first treatment if a person's BMI is 50 or above.

To conclude, achieving and maintaining an ideal body weight may not be a walk in the park, but it is absolutely beneficial not just for our overall health, but also to our quality of life. So, if you want to know more about weight loss strategies that may work best for you, schedule an appointment with Dr. Ponti now so she can guide you on your journey towards your weight goals.