Local Physician Encourages Healthy Loss of Pandemic Pounds
6/17/2021
Study finds average weight gains of 1.5 pounds a month during pandemic
NATCHEZ, Miss. – June 17, 2021 —– As the days get longer and community is opening up, a local physician is encouraging her patients to reverse the extra pounds they may have added over the past year of the pandemic. Dr. Barbara Smith, a primary care physician with Merit Health Medical Group Primary Care Clinic, says it’s a great time to get back on track with healthy habits and shed that extra weight.
“The pandemic, especially early on, was a major disruption in most of our lives,” said Dr. Smith. “Exercise routines were halted when gyms and parks closed. The stress that was encountered with being at home, working from home, having kids at home, etc., created almost a perfect storm for over eating and weight gain. It is now time to get serious about losing those extra pounds gained before they create long-term health issues,” concluded Dr. Smith.
A recent study by the University of California, San Francisco confirmed what many of our scales and wardrobes have already shown us – lower activity levels and increased snacking and overeating have added up, and not for the better. The study found significant increases in weight of roughly a pound and a half gained per month following the shelter in place orders of last spring.
Even before the pandemic, CDC data from 2017-2018 showed that 35% or more of adults in Mississippi and Louisiana had obesity. Overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher; obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or higher.
Extra pounds can increase your risk for many serious diseases and health conditions that are some of the leading causes of preventable, premature death. Overweight can lead to high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, high blood cholesterol, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, many types of cancer and other concerns.
“I strongly encourage you to schedule that medical checkup or physical you may have postponed, as getting updates on your blood pressure, cholesterol and other health indicators can be motivation for you to get serious about losing those pandemic pounds,” said Dr. Smith. “Make a goal to get more physically active and eat healthier, but please discuss with your primary care physician, as each person’s situation is different and must be reviewed to establish a health plan to lose weight,” said Dr. Smith
According to the National Institutes of Health, strategies for weight loss and weight maintenance include dietary changes, physical activity, behavior therapy, pharmacotherapy and surgery. Your primary care physician can help you determine what course of action can support your health objectives.
Please talk to your primary care physician about any weight gain you have experienced. If you do not have a primary care physician, call Merit Health Medical Group Primary Care at 601-445-1715 or visit http://primarycareappointments.com/merit/natchez/ to schedule an appointment online.
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