It seems like you’ve tried every diet plan and workout program. And while you may lose weight temporarily, you end up back where you were or even heavier. Should you simply surrender to your larger size?
While health isn’t determined by body weight, a range of conditions are linked with excess pounds. Fortunately, by getting the proper support, you can up your odds of healthfully managing your weight and wellness long term.
Dr. Javier Sosa and our expert team at Woodlands Primary Healthcare, located in The Woodlands, Texas, offer medical weight loss programs, nutrition counseling, and hormone testing and therapy to help you reach and maintain a healthy weight.
Take a few moments to learn more about weight loss, from why it’s challenging to ways we can help.
Common causes of excess pounds
Weight challenges can stem from many factors, including your genetics, behaviors, metabolism, and hormonal health.
A common reason for weight challenges in the United States is eating a calorie-dense diet and exercising too little. While it may sound easy to eat fewer calories and move more, factors like ingrained habits, a hectic life, poor access to healthy food, and even high levels of stress can make it complicated.
Stress, for example, increases levels of hormones that fuel increased hunger, overeating, and higher insulin levels — all of which commonly contribute to added pounds. When you add physiological issues, such as a hormone imbalance or chronic pain to the mix, you’re likely to have an even tougher time staying within a healthy weight range.
Fad diets, too, can fuel weight gain by tinkering with your metabolism. Significantly restrictive eating can force your body into starvation mode, leading it to hold on to more calories than it burns for fuel. Furthermore, many popular “quick fix” diets lack vital nutrients, which can lead to additional challenges, like fatigue and weakness.
How to turn your weight loss woes around
Steady and gradual weight loss is the healthiest and most sustainable. At Woodlands Primary Healthcare, Dr. Sosa and our team can help you accomplish this by recommending a dietary and activity plan based on your unique needs and preferences. We may also suggest stress management techniques and ways to improve your sleep habits — both of which play a role in weight control.
We can also determine if you’re dealing with an underlying weight gain-related condition, such as thyroid disease, so that you can get needed treatment. If you’re a good candidate for weight loss medication, we can prescribe that, too.
And throughout your program, we’ll encourage you by providing accountability and support. That is essential, given that appropriate support is known to enhance weight loss results.
To learn more about weight loss or get the care you need, call Woodlands Primary Healthcare, located in The Woodlands, Texas, or request an appointment with Dr. Sosa on our website today.