If weight loss is on your list of personal goals, you’re not alone. In 2020, over 50% of Americans wanted to lose weight by the end of the year. Of course, this isn’t always any easy task to accomplish. In the United States alone, over 25% of American women are overweight, while over 11% have severe obesity.
To lose weight, most people turn towards dieting and exercising. However, even after implementing these strategies, many people still struggle to meet their goals. Anything from your environment to your genetics can influence your ability to lose weight.
So, what can you do if the tried-and-tested tactics aren’t working for you? For some people, the answer lies in weight loss medication. Our medically-monitored weight loss program uses semaglutide to help women who aren’t achieving results through traditional methods alone. Our medical techniques can help women feel both happier and healthier. Let’s examine some proven weight loss techniques, the challenges associated with weight loss and how our semaglutide program can help.
What Are Some Common Ways to Lose Weight?
From improving confidence to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, there are many reasons why someone may want to lose weight. If you’ve made weight loss a personal ambition this year, you should start by trying these proven tactics.
Diet
It’s no secret that dieting is one of the most common ways to lose weight. However, it’s important not to confuse dieting with not eating. In general, adult women should consume around 2,000 calories per day. Not getting enough calories can lead to nutritional deficiencies, which increases the risk of problems like bone loss and poor thyroid function.
The best way to fulfill your daily calorie need and lose weight is by maintaining a healthy diet. Different foods influence your body in different ways — while some foods encourage weight gain, others bring benefits that improve overall health and assist with weight loss. Here are some top foods recommended by health experts:
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Lean proteins: Lean proteins, such as chicken and turkey, help build muscle mass and keep you full for long periods of time.
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Vegetables: Many vegetables (including broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower) are high in fiber, which slows down digestion and stabilizes blood sugar.
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Fruits: Most fruits (including citrus, stone fruits and berries) have low calorie counts and high amounts of vitamins, minerals and fiber.
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Fish and Seafood: Some fish, such as salmon, is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids (which are healthy fats that boost heart health and keep you full).
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Nuts and seeds: Things like almonds, pecans and flaxseeds stabilize blood sugar, increase your fiber intake and help you stay full.
Ultimately, a healthy diet features foods that are high in fiber, nutrients and protein. It also limits unhealthier substances, such as overly-processed foods, refined carbohydrates and sweets. Foods like potato chips, white bread and pastries are low in fiber and nutrients, which means they get digested rather quickly. As a result, they don’t keep you full.
Processed foods also increase blood sugar levels. To combat this increase, your pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that stimulates fat cells . While you don’t have to eliminate unhealthy items from your diet entirely, it’s important to keep them to a minimum and fill up on healthy, nutrient-packed ingredients.
Exercise
There’s a reason why dieting is often paired with exercise. Regular, physical activity burns calories — when you burn more calories than you consume, you lose weight. Exercise also offers the following benefits:
- Reduced blood pressure
- Reduced risk of health problems (including diabetes, stroke and heart attacks)
- Improved blood sugar and insulin management
- Improved mental health
- Improved bone and muscle strength
Now that you know the benefits of exercise, you might be wondering: how much exercise do I need every day? While the answer varies from person to person, the U.S. Department of Health and Services recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity and 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity every week.
Moderate activity includes exercise that elevates your heart rate, but isn’t too intense or distracting (such as brisk walks, cycling and snow shoveling). Vigorous activity, meanwhile, greatly increases your heart rate and requires your full attention. Examples include running, swimming or playing sports. Following the recommended guideline, you should try and exercise for at least 30 minutes per day.
Why Am I Not Losing Weight?
Combining a healthy diet with regular physical activity is a proven way to lose weight. However, it doesn’t produce the same results for everyone. The following factors may make it more difficult to lose weight:
- Genetics
- Environment
- Health conditions (i.e. diabetes)
Genetics can influence everything from your food cravings and appetite levels to the way you store and burn calories. It can also make you predisposed to obesity. For example, those who have at least one parent with obesity have up to an 80% chance of developing obesity themselves.
Your environment may also impact your ability to lose weight. Studies show a direct link between weight and socioeconomic status — generally, people with lower income levels have reduced access to healthier foods. A busy schedule can also make it harder to maintain a healthy diet or exercise.
Once you develop obesity, your risk of certain health conditions — such as type 2 diabetes — increases exponentially. People with diabetes don’t generate enough insulin or don’t use insulin efficiently, which makes their bodies convert blood sugar into fat. As a consequence, it becomes harder to lose weight.
At the end of the day, proven weight loss techniques affect everyone differently. An improved diet and regular exercise might be highly effective in one person, but offer minimal results in another. If you employ these tactics but are still struggling to lose weight, weight loss medication may help.
Semaglutide: A Medical Weight Loss Solution
Are you looking for additional support to supplement your diet and exercise habits? Semaglutide might be right for you. In essence, semaglutide is a diabetes medication for weight loss. The drug, which is injected under the skin, offers the following benefits:
- Delayed gastrointestinal motility
- Better appetite regulation
- Improved insulin regulation
Semaglutide imitates a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), which slows down digestion. As a result, it makes you stay full for longer periods of time. This hormone also helps the body release the right amount of insulin, which is especially beneficial for diabetic individuals.
Since 2017, Semaglutide has been an approved treatment for type 2 diabetes. And, as of 2021, it has been approved as a chronic weight management solution for those who meet the eligibility requirements.
Eligibility for Semaglutide
Typically, semaglutide is available as a weight loss solution for individuals who are overweight or obese and have one of the following weight-related health conditions:
- Type 2 diabetes
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
While semaglutide generates different results in every person, trials demonstrate its overall effectiveness in achieving weight loss. For example, in one trial, semaglutide recipients (who were mostly adult women) lost 12% of body weight compared to those who didn’t take the drug. People with type 2 diabetes, meanwhile, lost 6% of body weight.
Ultimately, the role it plays in weight management, coupled with its insulin management properties, make semaglutide one of the best weight loss medications out there. For the best results, these treatments must be combined with a healthy diet and regular exercise. You should also work with a reputable source, such as our Massachusetts-based medical weight loss center.
Try Our Semaglutide Medical Weight Loss Program Today!
Are you struggling to meet your weight loss goals, despite adjusting your diet and exercise habits? From a genetic predisposition to environmental factors, there are many reasons why someone may be unable to lose weight, even after trying proven techniques. When left unaddressed, obesity can increase the risk of health issues, such as type 2 diabetes. To help achieve their goals, more and more people are turning towards medical weight loss solutions, like semaglutide.
When combined with diet and exercise changes, semaglutide can provide the extra support you need to lose weight. Not only does it increase your confidence, but it can also improve your overall health. If you’d like to learn more about our program and whether it’s right for you, don’t hesitate to reach out!
