Obesity is a massive epidemic in this country, with over 40 percent of Americans ages 20 years or older suffering its effects. While diet and exercise are definitely great for losing weight, finding that initiative to get started can be difficult for some. If you need a bit of guidance or motivation, our team at Montecito Concierge Medicine can help. Our fitness couches and medical professionals specialize in addressing excess weight and can offer you a comprehensive treatment suited to your end goals.
What Is Obesity?
Not everyone who is overweight is considered obese. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define obesity as a person having a BMI, or Body Mass Index, of 30 or greater for adults. While BMI is not a perfect metric, if you have a BMI over 30, it’s a good sign that you should address your weight issues right away.
What Are the Symptoms of Obesity?
If you are obese, you may have difficulty breathing comfortably and become winded quickly, you may put undue pressure on your joints, weakening them and causing you pain, you may have back pain, and you may have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea especially is a very dangerous condition and can cause you to stop breathing many times over the course of the night. Obese people also are at greater risk of heart disease, certain types of cancers, and death due to COVID-19. In addition, obese people are often unhappy with their appearance, leading to a loss of confidence and difficulty in social situations.
What Causes Obesity?
Genetics can play a big role in developing this issue, as some people may have more efficient metabolisms than others. It can also be harder to lose weight as you get older or if you don’t get enough good sleep. Obesity may also be due to a glandular condition. Ultimately, however, poor diet and insufficient exercise are usually the primary culprits. If you burn more calories than you consume, you should lose weight. If you eat a lot of high fat or high carbohydrate foods and live a more sedentary lifestyle, you are more likely to gain weight and develop this issue.
How Do We Treat Obesity at Montecito Concierge Medicine?
A concierge medicine practice is the perfect place to get a handle on your obesity concerns once and for all. After taking your full history, we will come up with a custom plan for medical weight loss, which can include regular testing, nutritional counseling and an exercise plan. We will follow you month to month to make sure you are following our recommendations and that they are working for you. If you do not start to lose weight, we can adjust the program until you do.
Why Do I Need Nutritional Counseling?
Good intentions and willpower are not always enough. The diet you are currently on may be right for some, but not for you. You may lose interest in an eating plan if you find it too unpleasant or are not getting the results you want quickly enough. The right nutritional counselor will create a whole life eating plan that you can stick to and that will improve your health because it is customized to your body and your needs.
What Is Exercise Counseling?
It’s common knowledge that you are much likely to stick with regular exercise if you are accountable to someone else, which is why people often work out with a buddy. It’s too easy to decide to skip a day if no one’s watching. Naturally, your dedicated exercise counselor at Montecito Concierge Medicine will hold you accountable to your exercise program, but we do a lot more than that. We make sure you are doing the right kind of exercise. Cardiovascular exercise, weight training, flexibility, these are all important, but different people will need different emphasis depending upon their body type and health condition. With our exercise counseling, you can be sure you are on the right exercise program and getting the support you need to make it work.
Get Help for Obesity Now at Montecito Concierge Medicine
Your obesity is a serious problem. It can interfere with your relationships and the quality of your experiences and could even cost you your life. The time to start anew is now. Click the link below and submit an appointment request or call us at (805) 892-6500 to schedule a 15-minute consultation with Dr. Alan J. Viglione to get started.