Health, Diet & Lifestyle
When it comes to battling obesity, health, diet, and lifestyle are all key factors to master—but it can be difficult to do this without the proper education. Whether you are struggling with obesity or simply want to embrace a healthier life, learning more about these topics is a perfect place to start.
What is a Healthy Weight?
Every person has a different “healthy weight.” While body mass index (BMI) is a helpful tool for measuring a person’s weight in relation to height for classification purposes, it is not the “be all and end all” of weight measurement—nor is the number on the scale. Learning more about how weight is measured and what classifies a person as overweight or obese can be helpful, but there are many factors that go into determining whether a person is at a “healthy weight.”
Counting Calories
Calories can simply be defined as the energy we get from food. We need calories to keep our bodies functioning properly, but taking in more calories than we burn can lead to weight gain. Understanding how many calories you need to keep your body running and how many calories you should consume to lose weight is an important part of the weight management journey. A simple calorie counter can be a very helpful tool.
Exercise
Exercise is key not only to achieving a healthy weight, but also to healthy living in general. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, getting enough physical activity can influence weight, sleep, and overall healthy functioning. In fact, the CDC recommends that adults should engage in exercise or healthy physical activity for at least 150 minutes each week.1
Understanding Obesity
Obesity is a complex disease characterized by an excess of body fat. In the United States, more than 40% of adults can be categorized as obese according to their body mass index (BMI). Not only does obesity bring its own discomforts and challenges, but it is also associated with a long list of accompanying conditions that may be health threats.
Obesity Health Risks
Obesity is a disease itself, and is rising to epidemic levels in the United States. In addition to the health effects caused by obesity, this condition is associated with a number of comorbidities—obesity-related health conditions that can cause illness or even death.
Medical Weight Loss
Medical weight loss is a broad term that encompasses weight loss coaching, prescription medication to help suppress the appetite or change eating habits, and other doctor-led interventions.
Weight Loss Surgery
Weight loss surgery, also known as bariatric surgery, is proven to be safe and an effective intervention for many people who struggle with obesity. From Gastric Bypass to Gastric Sleeve and Duodenal Switch surgery, there are a range of bariatric surgery procedures that can be an important step in a person’s weight loss journey.
Non-Surgical Weight Loss
In addition to medical weight loss and weight loss surgery, there are a number of non surgical options available to people who wish to overcome obesity. Procedures like Endoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy and the Gastric Balloon are minimally-invasive, non-surgical, and highly effective for certain types of patients.
1 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Physical Activity for Adults. Available: https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/adults/index.htm. Accessed November 10, 2020.
The TLC Surgery Doctors have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.