Weight Management
-
- Tweet
Med South Primary Care
Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician, and Physician Assistant located in Stockbridge, GA
Losing just 5-10% of your body fat can significantly reduce your blood sugar and cholesterol levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. Ira C. Robinson II, MD, and the team at Med South Primary Care know how essential weight management is for your overall health. That’s why they offer healthy weight loss programs at their office in Stockbridge, Georgia. To schedule an appointment with the team, call Med South Primary Care, or book a visit online today.
Weight Management Q&A
Why is weight management important?
Carrying extra weight can lead to several health problems, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
It also increases your risk of certain cancers, like colon cancer. Losing even a modest amount of weight can dramatically improve your overall health, particularly if you struggle with obesity.
What is obesity?
Obesity is a potentially dangerous condition in which you’re carrying around enough excess body fat to increase your risk of developing certain diseases.
To diagnose obesity, the Med South Primary Care team calculates your body mass index (BMI). This measures your level of body fat based on your height and weight.
Health experts consider a healthy BMI to be between 18.5-24.9. If your BMI measures between 25 and 29.9, you’re overweight. Those with a BMI of 30 and above are obese.
What causes obesity?
Obesity is a complex condition that doesn’t necessarily have a single cause. Some of the most common things that lead to excess body fat include:
Poor diet
A high-calorie diet is one of the leading causes of obesity. Eating a diet high in sugar, simple carbohydrates, and unhealthy fat can increase your body fat, particularly around the abdomen.
Physical inactivity
Exercise burns calories, which helps you lose weight. If you aren’t active, your body can’t burn more calories than it’s taking in, so the excess calories are stored as fat.
Genetics
Genetics plays a crucial role in your weight and body type. If a close relative is overweight, you likely are predisposed to gain weight. Fortunately, being genetically prone to obesity doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t lose weight with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Medication
Some medications, like antidepressants and antiseizure drugs, can lead to weight gain. Talk to the Med South Primary Care team about your options if you’re prone to obesity and starting a new medication.
Stress
When you feel stressed and burned out, junk food and sweets can serve as “comfort food.” While overindulging once in a while won’t significantly affect your weight or health, regular binge eating can.
How can I manage my weight?
The Med South Primary Care team can design a customized weight management plan. This plan can include a full physical exam, lab tests, and other tests to check your hormones and identify underlying factors that can affect your weight.
Once they have all the information they need, the team can create a weight management plan that targets your goals.
To schedule an appointment with Med South Primary Care, call the office today or book an appointment online.
