There’s a big elephant in your room that you wish wasn’t there —
you or a loved one may be seriously overweight.

Nearly two of every three Americans are overweight or obese. If
you were to gather 15 of your family members, friends or
co-workers, almost 10 of them would be overweight.

Whether you’re overweight or not, consider this:

• The average lifespan of an obese person is shortened by more
  than ten years.
• Obesity is associated with higher rates of chronic medical
  problems and a poorer quality of life than either alcohol abuse
  or smoking.
• 80% of women say excess weight is damaging their health,
  ruining their sex lives, and holding back their careers.
• 60% of overweight women will not allow their partner to see
  them naked.
• Excess weight has been linked as a contributor to virtually
  every common chronic disease, including all of the major killers
  such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
• 15% of children are overweight, and their rate of obesity is
  climbing sharply.

You would think, if being overweight is so unhealthy and so
undesirable, that all of us would be on a weight control program.
Part of the problem is that some are in a state of denial. A
recent survey showed that only 39% of adults considered
themselves overweight, although 61% are actually overweight or
obese.

But most of the problem is due to a variety of factors, primarily
a poor quality diet, and lack of exercise. Hormonal imbalances
such as insulin resistance and low thyroid or adrenal function
also play a major role.

Chronic stress leads to “emotional overeating” and creates high
levels of stress hormones that contribute to central abdominal
obesity. Excess belly fat, compared to fat elsewhere in the body,
increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke in
middle age. Stress management is a vital component of permanent
weight loss.

Fortunately, there is an answer. The most effective way to lose
weight is to be evaluated by your physician so that the
causes of your weight gain can be properly
identified. Then, it is possible to develop a tailored,
supervised weight loss program that is safe and permanent.

By the way, just intentionally “trying” to lose weight increases
your lifespan. So if you’re having a problem with weight, talk to
one of our physicians. Even if you don’t lose much weight, just
making the effort makes a big difference in your health.