You’ve tried changing your lifestyle more than once, yet you still can’t seem to reach and maintain a healthy body weight. This common conundrum stands in the way for many people, which is a major reason nearly 75% of Americans struggle with extra pounds.
Rather than shame yourself for such challenges or give up for good, it’s important to recognize that you’re not alone in your trials and that there are legitimate reasons behind them.
Dr. Javier Sosa and our expert team at Woodlands Primary Healthcare, located in The Woodlands, Texas, can help you get off the weight loss roller coaster for good. Here, we explore common factors that make weight control so hard, plus ways we can help.
You’re skimping on sleep
Many people associate weight loss with food and exercise only. But many other factors make a difference, including how much sleep you get.
In recent years, Americans’ nightly sleep quantity has gone down as rates of obesity have gone up — and researchers believe they’re linked. One reason for this may be the fact that sleep loss tends to increase your appetite. Hormones that regulate your appetite seem to rely on sufficient sleep to do their job properly.
You’ve relied on fad diets
Many fad diets reduce your intake of calories or particular nutrient groups so severely that they’re both difficult to maintain and self-defeating. When your body lacks fuel, it stores more fat to keep you from starving. Fad diets can also lead to constipation, dehydration, fatigue, and weak immune function, all of which can make leading a healthy lifestyle difficult.
In addition, losing and then regaining excess pounds repeatedly, also known as yo-yo dieting, can damage your metabolism. Over time, you may gain more weight than you carried to begin with.
You have an underlying medical condition
Numerous medical conditions negatively impact your metabolism or other factors that make losing weight easier, such as low energy levels and chronic pain. Conditions that can make shedding excess pounds more challenging include:
- Diabetes
- Congestive heart failure
- Cushing’s syndrome
- Depression
- Hormonal imbalance linked with aging or menopause
- Hyperthyroidism
- Insomnia
- Narcolepsy
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Sleep apnea
You’ve lacked professional support
Losing weight on your own is always difficult. And in some cases, it’s risky from a health standpoint. That’s where we come in.
At Woodlands Primary Healthcare, we create customized weight loss programs based on your needs and body composition. From there, we monitor your health and progress to keep you safe and ensure you stay on track, offering support and encouragement along the way. We also help you shift to weight maintenance habits once you’ve reached your ideal range.
Your program may include one or more of the following:
- Behavioral evaluation and modification
- Exercise recommendations
- Hormone testing
- HCG diet or Clean Start Weight Loss, with medical guidance
- Nutritional counseling
- Prescription weight loss medications
To learn more about weight loss or get the support you need, call Woodlands Primary Healthcare, located in The Woodlands, Texas, or request an appointment with Dr. Sosa on our website today.
