Why is Weight Loss so Difficult?
You’re not alone if you’re struggling to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. In the U.S., two-thirds of adults are classified as overweight or obese.
While the majority of the population carries more than the average amount of weight for their height, it’s not for their lack of interest in slimming down. Nearly half of Americans are trying to lose weight.
While many people are dedicated to reaching their weight-loss goals, common misconceptions can set them up for failure before they begin. Unfortunately, it can often take weeks or even months before people realize that the program they’re following doesn’t work.
You’re more likely to get the results you desire when you try to lose weight under the direction of a medical professional. The wellness specialists at Ovation Wellness in Madison, Mississippi, can help you find an individualized weight loss program that works for you.
A medically supervised weight loss program can help you position your journey to wellness in the right direction. If you’re struggling to lose weight on your own, here are some reasons that you may be frustrated with your results.
You may have a medical condition that limits weight loss
If you have a medical condition that hinders weight loss and/or causes weight gain, your body may be working against you by interfering with your efforts to shed extra pounds. A medically supervised weight loss program includes a comprehensive physical examination, family and medical history, and assessment of your overall wellness.
If you have an underlying medical condition, you may have to pursue treatment for your health issues before you can succeed with weight loss.
Some common medical conditions that can interfere with weight loss or affect your metabolism include:
- Chronic stress
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Diabetes
- Depression
- Hormonal changes in women
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
- Low testosterone levels in men
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Syndrome X (insulin resistance)
If you’re treating one of these or any other medical condition, your medication may also be contributing to your weight loss frustration. Identifying these underlying barriers to weight loss can help you improve the results of your efforts.
You’re lacking the necessary support
An important benefit of a medically supervised weight loss plan is the ongoing support you receive from our medical team. In addition to designing a customized diet and exercise plan for your body, you also receive the education and guidance you need to understand how your plan works and why each component is so important.
Working with a weight loss specialist also makes you accountable for staying on your plan. Periodic weigh-ins help gauge your success and allow for modifications if your plan isn’t working.
You’re relying too much on exercise
While exercise is part of your weight loss equation, you can’t rely on exercise to achieve the bulk of your goals. Exercise can improve your health and help you burn calories, but exercise typically helps you achieve only about 3% of weight loss.
Weight loss relies on creating a calorie deficit, a situation in which the number of calories you consume is fewer than the calories you burn. Cutting calories from your diet by modifying your eating habits is the primary way to achieve a calorie deficit.
While exercise can improve your health, it can also increase your appetite and encourage you to eat more. Exercise can support weight loss and help maintain your goal weight, but it’s hard to depend on it as your primary source of weight control.
Your plan isn’t personalized
The best diet for you is one that’s personalized for your body. Factors like genetics, metabolism, lifestyle, gender, age, environment, and other conditions can affect your weight loss success.
Finding the right diet plan for your body is part of the challenge in achieving weight loss. Working with a weight loss specialist can save you weeks, months, and even years of the frustration of trying to find the right approach on your own.
You haven’t considered all options
While diet and exercise are the foundation for establishing and maintaining long-term weight loss, medications can help jump-start your progress. Achieving results can often help you maintain your commitment and stay motivated.
You may benefit from the short-term use of one of several FDA-approved weight loss drugs. Using these medications can help increase your metabolism and quiet your brain’s urging to eat more than you should.
A weight loss specialist can help you determine whether this type of support may be helpful and prescribe weight loss medications if appropriate.
Everyone’s weight loss journey is unique. Find out more about the factors that may be stalling your weight loss and how we can help you find what works. Call our office today to schedule a medical consultation.
