The New Year is often a time for making decisions about health and wellness; The vow to lose weight is one of the most popular vows. However, losing weight and keeping it off can be difficult for many people. Often this is due to a misunderstanding of the causes of weight gain. Tracking calories and exercising are important steps to achieving a healthy weight, but they may not help you unless you address the root cause of your weight problem. Let's see what made those numbers go up.
In functional medicine, we study the underlying causes of weight gain. The body is a very complex "machine" with complex hormonal interactions and transmission systems that together control our metabolism. Ultimately, it is our metabolism that keeps our weight up or down. Persistent weight gain or weight gain is often a sign of a hormonal imbalance or imbalance.
Weight gain is the result of many factors, so it's important to look at all possible causes and find out what your problem is. With the answers, we can develop practical solutions and plan for long-term success. Successful weight loss strategies must be tailored to each patient, which is why I take the time to learn about current lifestyle, genetics, environment, mental health, sleep patterns, and eating habits. Reduced activity and a high-calorie diet can certainly lead to weight gain, but there may be other reasons. Conditions that can lead to weight gain: stress, anxiety, depression, certain medications, undiagnosed food allergies or intolerances, food addiction, aging, hypothyroidism, polycystic ovary syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, and other conditions.
The next step in developing a successful plan is a follow-up physical examination and diagnostic tests. Tests typically include food intake, a complete gastrointestinal exam, metabolism, food sensitivity, adrenal evaluation, and hormone function.
Now that I have a complete profile of what your body needs and how it works, we can set short and long term goals and develop a plan to help you achieve them. The aim is always to create a personalized program that enables patients to move towards a healthier life not only now but also in the future. Such a plan includes what to eat, when and how much, possible supplements, tips to improve sleep and reduce stress, and activity goals. Depending on the underlying cause of your weight problem, other treatments may be combined.
Achieving a healthy weight is possible. Start the new year knowing that help is available.
Dr. Michael Blackman is a naturopath specializing in functional nutrition. He previously had a successful chiropractic practice in Dover for 20 years and provided nutritional advice. Learn more at www.canutritionnh.com.
This article first appeared in the Portsmouth Herald: Achieving a Healthy Weight.