During the pandemic, 42% of American adults unintentionally gained weight. The average gain was £ 29. Due to pandemic restrictions and fear, 60% of people say it has become more difficult to lose weight since the arrival of COVID-19. Sadness, trauma, and isolation are all serious problems, and some people turn to food to deal with them. Others are even ashamed of losing weight.
Even before the pandemic, obesity was a major health problem facing the country. Despite its prevalence, only 56% of physicians feel eligible to treat obesity, and even fewer feel successful. Less than 0.5% of North American doctors are specially trained to manage obesity. Why is the number of obese patients and the number of doctors eligible to treat obesity so unequal? The problem of obesity cannot be solved in the United States without the help of a well-informed doctor.
Judgment hurts
One of the most difficult parts of going to the doctor as an obese person is judgment. Johns Hopkins found that 21% of overweight patients felt that they were judged by their GP, and as a result, they were unlikely to trust their advice. Fifty-five percent of obese patients are worried that they will be heavy enough to cancel their appointment. In addition, overweight patients are more likely to switch doctors repeatedly, resulting in inconsistent care and more likely landing in the emergency room.
Weight loss drugs are not fully utilized in the current environment. Less than 3% of all eligible patients are prescribed weight loss medications. It may be true that not all overweight people should rely on medication to shave their pounds, but many currently non-drugs benefit from adding medication to their weight loss journey. It is also true that you can get. The problem is not the drug itself. 77% of current weight loss prescriptions are for phentermine. Phentermine was first approved by the FDA in 1959, so its effects on humans are well studied. Patients can lose 7 to 8 times more weight during the same period than if they were on exercise and diet alone.
Relationship with mental health
Another area of weight loss that is not generally considered is mental health. Weight issues have a major impact on mental health as well as physical health. Eighty percent of people with severe mental illness are overweight or obese. Memory and mental processes can be impaired by mental illness, making it difficult for patients to learn new habits, maintain motivation, and take appropriate actions to lose weight. For people suffering from depression, eating emotionally is a coping mechanism. Half of the adults who report a history of bulimia also experience depression.
Even those who can lose weight are not easy to lose weight. 97% of diet therapists get back everything they lost (or more) within three years. Weight loss does not automatically improve someone’s mental health, even if certain physical aspects improve. Losing weight is more difficult than most diet programs want people to believe. Weight can summarize several issues.
Brian Wallace is a Grit Daily columnist. He is an entrepreneur, writer, and host of podcasts. He is the founder and president of Now Sourcing and has been featured in Forbes, TIME, and The New York Times. Brian previously wrote to Mashable and now writes to Hacker Noon, CMSWire, Business 2 Community and more. His Next Action Podcast features entrepreneurs trying to reach the next level. Brian also hosts #LinkedInLocal events nationwide to promote the use of LinkedIn among professionals who want to grow their careers.
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