WHY IS IT SO HARD TO LOSE WEIGHT?

WRITER: SHYLEY MCFARLAND

With almost 70 percent of the American population overweight, weight loss is big news and big business. There is constant research being done, and countless products being marketed to help people lose weight. Some of those products are safe, some are not, and some help while others don’t. Because none of them is a magic cure, people continue to struggle with obesity.

Why is it so hard to lose weight? The answer to this question is different for each person and their situation. If a person is overweight, eats all the wrong foods, and sits on the couch all day, it is fairly easy to guess why they’re overweight. However, there may be an underlying physical or mental problem that causes this person to sit on the couch all day, and there may be a socioeconomic reason this person eats all the wrong foods. In either case, until the underlying situation is rectified, weight continues to be hard to lose and easy to gain.

Some of the most common underlying conditions that prevent weight loss:

•A thyroid condition can cause weight gain or loss. The most common issues are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and both are treatable.

•Certain medications cause weight gain.

•Depression is one of the leading causes of weight gain and difficulty with weight loss. It can be treated medically, but it is also important to find the cause.

•Menopause may cause weight gain due to hormonal changes and the reduction of estrogen.

•Diabetes may cause weight gain, and while the condition can be treated with medication, the excess weight is reduced with proper nutrition and exercise.

•Stress plays a huge factor in both weight-gain and weight-loss difficulties. The body’s built-in protection systems do as much harm as good: stress causes anxiety, which triggers your brain to tell your body to store fat.

This is a short list of the problems that could prevent losing weight. It is important to see your physician, especially if you are dieting and exercising with no results. While underlying health issues may be the reason people don’t lose weight, this is not always the case. In many situations, the culprit lies in your eating or exercise habits and choices.

Chris Kessler, DC, of Legacy Clinic in The Villages, is a chiropractor who works with patients on weight-loss issues. “The biggest problem I see in the office is patients are unaware they’re eating or drinking specific things that prevent weight loss,” Dr. Chris says. “I had a patient who thought she was eating healthy by having cereal and a banana for breakfast, but in your body that breaks down into sugar and acts as a barrier to weight loss.”

Ask your doctor how many calories per day are appropriate for you, and construct an eating plan that has a healthy balance of protein and other nutrients, with fewer carbs. “Even eating healthy food, you can eat too much at the same time,” Dr. Chris says. “And mixing up the types of food you eat is important.”

Consider your activity levels.

•How much do you move each day, aside from specific workouts or exercise?

•Do you sit at a desk all day?

•How much walking do you do?

•Do you lift weights in going about your daily activities?

•Do you do any bending or squatting in the normal course of your day?

Exercise should be done all day, every day. Just living your life could give you enough exercise, depending on how physical your day-to-day life is. If you sit at a desk all day, swing your feet. Make it a point to stand up at least once an hour and walk around. Do stretches.

If you have a naturally physical life, such as working on a loading dock or playing professional football, you may not need scheduled workouts. Otherwise, you should be working out at least one hour three to five times per week. Your exercise should consist of strength training and cardio workouts. If you aren’t sure what to do, hire a personal trainer. Make sure you talk to your doctor about any physical limitations you may have before starting a workout routine.

Losing weight is hard, but may be impossible if your body systems aren’t working right or you aren’t doing or eating the right things. If weight loss is a problem, talk to your doctor and take stock of your eating and exercise habits so you can locate and correct the problem. Once you get all the facts, you may find that weight loss isn’t as difficult as you thought.