Atrium Health Navicent Primary Care Monroe

Diet & Weight Loss Management

Dieting and managing your weight is difficult, even if you just need to lose a few pounds. Hundreds of diets and weight loss products are on the market, and a lot of them do not work. Some of them even contain ingredients that can potentially be harmful, and some are very expensive.

When diet and weight loss management is one of your goals, the safest and most efficient way to lose weight and stay healthy is to discuss your weight loss goals with a doctor who can point out the high risks associated with obesity.

The leading causes of death are:

• Heart attacks
• Stroke
• Cancer

All of these medical conditions are linked to being overweight. A family practitioner who specializes in weight loss and nutrition is most qualified to advise you on a program that will help you to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

Most people choose to lose weight by following the latest diet craze or using over-the-counter weight loss products. However, not all of these methods work for everyone. Many OTC products have a disclaimer on the label that recommends discussing dieting with your doctor before you begin a program. Some foods cause a health risk for individual patients. They include:

• Proteins
• Dairy
• Carbohydrates

A family doctor can explain how some foods can be harmful to patients with chronic health problems.

If you have poor kidney function, you have to watch your protein intake. A person with kidney disease cannot process high amounts of protein, and they build up in the blood. Excessive waste from kidney problems can cause complications in some patients. Diabetics have to be careful of their carbohydrate intake because carbs will cause the blood sugar to rise significantly. Some diets advocate dairy products to maintain healthy levels of calcium. However, certain health problems such as diverticulosis can be aggravated by dairy foods.

Points to consider when you choose to manage your weight loss through diet, exercise, and nutrition is that certain rules apply whether you want to drop one size or lose more than 50 pounds. In order to be successful in your weight loss you will need to follow strict dietary guidelines and suggested exercise regimens.

Weight is determined by how much food we consume and how much energy we burn every day. If your weight remains at a constant level, you are burning enough calories to keep from gaining weight. However, if your weight has been increasing over time, you need to make some changes.

The amount of calories each person burns each day depends on the basal metabolic rate and the amount of activity we get. It is much easier for someone who weighs 100 pounds to maintain a consistent weight than someone who weighs twice that amount. Another consideration is your job and lifestyle. If you work in an office and do not move around much during the day, you will burn fewer calories than someone who gets a lot of physical activity. Here's an example:

A woman between 31 and 50 needs no more than 1800 calories per day to maintain their weight. However, a man needs 2200 calories. These statistics are for people who are sedentary most of the day. If you consume more calories than the recommended daily allowance, you will begin to gain weight.

The most effective programs consist of consuming less food each day and increasing your physical activity. To lose one pound in a week, you must consume 500 fewer calories per day. Your weight loss program will work more efficiently if you increase your activity level in addition to lowering your calorie intake.

One of the best things you can do to ensure that you lose weight and keep it off is to discuss any health issues and be honest about your eating habits with your doctor. If you are not accustomed to strenuous exercise, the doctor may recommend walking a few times a week. Your weight loss goals may be short or long-term, and your doctor can discuss ways in which to manage your weight, especially if it is an on-going issue.

Some people think that restrictive diets in which you consume fewer than 1200 calories a day or fasting are the best approaches to losing weight. The problem with fad diets is that when you severely restrict your caloric intake, your metabolism slows down, and it can be harder to lose weight.

Another issue with fasting is that it can result in headaches or low blood sugar, which can be dangerous. It is not easy to stay on a low-calorie diet indefinitely, and it is not healthy. If you have lost some weight with a fad diet, you are likely to go back to your original weight and possibly gain even more when you stop dieting. Your doctor may recommend staying away from processed foods that contain high amounts of fat and sodium, foods that contain a lot of sugar, fast food, and alcoholic beverages.

The National Institute of Health weight loss guidelines include resources that you can use to personalize a plan to reach your ideal weight with sensible nutrition and exercise.