You want to fit into your favorite pair of jeans, but dealing with weight challenges goes far deeper than how you look. Carrying extra pounds can lead to a wide range of medical issues that can significantly impact your health and daily life. Fortunately, you don't have to navigate your weight loss journey alone.
At The Healthy Woman, our highly skilled medical experts work with all of our patients to provide comprehensive health care throughout life. Whether you're seeking primary care for a physical or a chronic condition, weight loss assistance, or OB/GYN services, we have multiple offices in Georgia with spa-like atmospheres to meet all of your needs.
If you’ve struggled to lose weight, consider partnering with our primary care team and taking advantage of our effective weight loss program. Here’s what you should know about how carrying extra pounds affects your overall health and wellness and how we approach successful, long-lasting weight loss.
If losing weight was easy, almost one in three people in the United States wouldn't be overweight and more than two in five wouldn’t register as obese. However, no matter how difficult it is, it’s important to try to lose extra pounds to prevent — and, in some cases, even reverse — serious medical consequences.
Being overweight or obese increases your risk of a heart attack, stroke, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. Certain types of cancer — including those of the breast, endometrium, and colon — are also more likely to occur. In addition, carrying extra weight can result in chronic back and knee pain as well as osteoarthritis.
Your BMI is a measure of body fat content and is calculated using your height and weight. While it’s not a perfect measurement, it can help guide whether you’re at a healthy number or if you need to lose weight.
An online calculator can do the math to determine your BMI number, and you can compare it against a chart to see whether it’s in the normal weight range of 18.5 to 24.9, the overweight category of 25 through 29.9, or obese at 30 or more.
Weight loss can be challenging. Some pounds may refuse to budge, or you might lose the weight only to regain it back again. Many women find success with our team because we can help with everything from education and support to medical interventions when appropriate. Areas of focus in our weight loss program typically include:
For the best results, a shift toward healthier foods should be permanent and not a temporary fix. This includes eating natural, unprocessed foods and a diet that incorporates plenty of protein and low amounts of sugar and salt. Choose plant-based foods including fruits and vegetables as well as healthy fats like those found in fish and olive oil.
Moving more burns calories and plays an important role in weight loss — as well as good health in general.
At a minimum, adults should get 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. You should spread this throughout the week if possible, keeping your heart pumping and your energy up. Include resistance or strength training twice a week to build muscle.
Some women may benefit from prescription weight loss medication in addition to a healthy diet and exercise. This could range from certain drugs that suppress the appetite to others that boost metabolism for a larger number of calories burned. Our medical team may provide these medications to help jump-start your weight loss efforts.
Deciding to lose weight is an important step toward improving your health. We’re here to help. Our knowledgeable and caring team at The Healthy Woman can provide the information, support, and medical interventions you need to be successful.
Call us at 770-809-1100 or request an appointment online today. Our primary care offices are conveniently located in Atlanta East and Lawrenceville, Georgia.
