If only you could find the right diet or had more willpower, you’d finally lose the weight. If only weight loss was so simple.
Weight loss is hard. We know you may not believe us when you see so many people losing weight following the latest diet fad. But it’s true. If weight loss was easy, no one would struggle with their weight.
At Dutch Hollow Medical Day Spa in Godfrey, Illinois, we hear your struggles and do everything possible to help you succeed at weight loss with our physician-guided medical weight loss program.
But first, we want to explain some of the common factors that make healthy weight loss difficult.
You’re more likely to struggle with your weight if one or both of your parents are overweight or obese.
Scientists have identified 15 genetic mutations linked to obesity. People who struggle with their weight are more than twice as likely to have these genetic mutations as people of normal weight. These genes may also influence the amount of fat the body stores and where it gets stored.
However, researchers aren’t sure if the genes cause obesity, or if obesity triggers the genes.
Your overall health may also make healthy weight loss more difficult. Certain medical conditions affect your weight, such as hypothyroidism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hormonal conditions that change how the body uses food for energy.
Mood disorders like depression may also make it harder for you to lose weight, turning to food as a means of coping with your uncomfortable thoughts and feelings.
Chronic stress is another factor that affects weight. Stress triggers the release of your fight-or-flight hormones, slowing down other body functions so you can defend yourself or run from danger.
These hormones increase the release of insulin, helping transport sugar from your blood into the cell for energy. The resulting drop in blood sugar triggers food cravings, usually for foods high in sugar and fat. Constant stress makes it harder to eat a balanced diet and reach a healthier weight.
Are you getting 7-9 hours of sleep a night? Not getting enough sleep increases your appetite and cravings for unhealthy food.
If you get less than seven hours of sleep a night, adding an extra hour or two to your routine may help you eat less.
Habits are hard to break, and your lifestyle can make healthy weight loss difficult.
Instead of an all-or-nothing approach to weight loss, you may have more success reaching your weight goals by making small, manageable changes to your daily routine. For example, try to go to bed an hour earlier every night or take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Small changes in your daily routine add up to big changes in health.
Not having the right support also makes healthy weight loss hard. Find supportive friends or family members to join you on your journey. You can keep each other motivated and on track.
You may also benefit from expert medical support. We offer a physician-guided medical weight loss program that includes semaglutide, the weight loss injection that’s helping many people reach their weight goals by decreasing appetite and food cravings.
We also offer B12 injections, which may give you an energy boost and increase activity.
Many factors make weight loss hard, but we have a solution that can help you reach your weight goals. Call our office today at 618-227-7167 or request an appointment online to learn more and get started.
