Your Weight May Have NOTHING to Do with Willpower

Let’s Get One Thing Straight

This article isn’t about fat-shaming, which is the use of derogatory language that demeans people, or blaming. This is about understanding the problem, finding solutions, and generating greater health, energy, and joy in the lives of those who face weight issues. In other words, I’m on your side, pointing fingers not at you, but at your health challenge.

Weight Problems Can Last for Decades

This is most likely NOT your first rodeo. You may have dieted dozens of times, fasted, exercised almost to the point of injury, used affirmations, and even approached psychic healers–all to no avail.

Your frustration is completely justified. Methods that work for some may not work for others. For example, among top three competitors–Nutrisystem, Weight Watchers (recently rebranded as WW), and Noom—consumers report heartwarming victories and deep disappointments.?

If you’re on one of these programs or another one that works for you, stick to it. It’s one thing to pick out a designer dress. Switching to a designer weight loss remedy just because it’s new is a whole ‘nother smoke.

Doctors View Obesity with a New Pair of Eyes

It helps to remember that obesity is a complex problem with multiple causes, and the medical community is only now beginning to recognize it as a chronic health condition. It’s about time! The good news is that better medical treatment options are becoming available.

But first, let’s examine one of the root causes of obesity.?

The Role of the Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is a small but powerful region located near the base of the brain, close to the pituitary gland. It plays a crucial role in regulating several bodily functions, including appetite, metabolism, and body weight. One of its primary functions is to release various hormones and neurotransmitters that control hunger and fullness. Dopamine is one of those transmitters, and you may recall that it’s one of the “happiness hormones.”

The hypothalamus releases the hormone ghrelin (the “h” is silent), which stimulates your appetite and prompts you to eat. Conversely, it releases the hormone leptin when your stomach is full, which helps to suppress appetite and reduce food intake.

So when it comes to eating disorders, the hypothalamus is often at the center of the action, as severe imbalances in this region can lead to lifelong problems with food intake and weight management.

Yes, Virginia, Eating Disorders Are Real

I first became aware of the threat of eating disorders when I worked as an x-ray tech and weighed a woman who registered 79 pounds on the scale. Believe it or not, she asked to view herself in the mirror and expressed concern that she had gained too much weight!

I also discovered—37,000 feet in the air—that one of the attendants on my flight service crew suffered from bulimia, a mental health condition that drove her to purge after every meal. Another symptom was the dry, brittle, and thinning texture of her hair, an unusual problem for a 20-year-old.

Tragic though it was, the death of singer Karen Carpenter highlighted eating disorders and increased awareness of them on a national scale. We will never know how many lives were saved once people began to recognize their friend or family member’s symptoms and express their concerns after Karen’s tragic story broke.

There are several disorders with different symptoms, but there are also similarities. Here are a couple of examples: People with anorexia nervosa are abnormally obsessed with the possibility of weight gain and may nearly starve themselves or use vomiting or laxatives to purge their meals.

Similarly, people with bulimia nervosa may have imbalances that cause them to binge, which means consuming excessive quantities of food, and then, plagued with guilt or worry, purge.

Ads Could Be Among the Culprits

It doesn’t help, of course, that some fast food marketers saturate the media with ads that use neuroscience marketing techniques to encourage people to overeat constantly. In addition, some companies’ food products include chemicals designed to stimulate addictive eating patterns.

Treatment for eating disorders that involve the hypothalamus often focuses on restoring balance to the hormones and neurotransmitters that control appetite and food intake. This may involve medications, such as antidepressants, or other therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or nutrition counseling.

There’s No Magic Bullet

But behavioral methods may not work. As suggested previously, you may not be doing anything wrong. But that doesn’t mean giving up. In fact, new discoveries are bringing hope to millions of people.

A recent 60 Minutes segment highlighted obesity as a brain disease and emphasized the significant role of genetics in determining the ability to either avoid or fight it. Yes, you read that right. Your genes may automatically program you to gain weight at a consistent clip no matter what you eat. That’s one of the reasons you sometimes see whole families who are overweight.

Keep That Chin Up

But that does NOT mean that you concede defeat. I’ve seen too many miraculous transformations occur in the lives of people who persisted in their struggle until they found healthy answers.

Some people find surgical interventions like gastric band operations, each with its own set of risks, helpful. Patients may swear by their effectiveness, but they are certainly not for everyone. That’s why there are multiple options.

Choosing the Best Specialist

A competent bariatrician (a doctor who specializes in weight loss) who is familiar with the most recent studies can ask questions about family history during a workup, consider genes as a causative factor, and prescribe one of the new drugs. One of them is called semaglutide, which is often in short supply. Marketed under the name of Wegovy?, it has produced remarkable results. But wait until your doctor makes a recommendation that’s right for YOU.?

Things People Dread about Their Meds

Drugs like semaglutide can be expensive. But don’t let desperation drive you to buy what are most likely lower-priced but dangerous and adulterated imitations off the internet.?

And just like with any other remedy, there are even potential problems with the real thing: side effects, interactions with other prescriptions, and a very high cost that your insurance company may or may not cover.?

You Do Have the Power to Change Things

A holistic view of a weight problem is incomplete without the willingness to take personal responsibility for your health; it can make a tremendous difference in the outcome. While there are physical and mental health issues that can bring about the condition of obesity and its subsequent problems—such as diabetes, certain cancers, and heart disease—it is up to you to take whatever healthy measures you can to control the condition.

• Keep a daily journal so you can observe your progress
• Be truthful with your doctors
• Try different approaches, such as those suggested by licensed nutritionists or board-certified Chinese medicine practitioners
• Follow their recommendations
• Take your medications as prescribed
• Consider drastic measures such as surgery as a last resort
• Find a supportive weight-loss partner
• Be willing to work on emotional issues that may underlie your condition

After that, it’s up to God. And, of course, He’s always on your side.

Conclusion

If you struggle with being overweight, It's important to note that hypothalamic malfunction and genetics are two significant factors involved in the complex web of causes behind eating disorders and weight problems.?

Others, such as environmental triggers, psychological and emotional issues, and certain medications, can also play a role. However, taking responsibility for self-care, seeking professional help, and connecting with support groups can be parts of an effective treatment protocol.

One final reminder remains crucial—surround yourself with people who love you as you are, yet actively support you in your healthy weight loss goals!

Want to set and meet healthy weight loss goals with my guidance? Our meetings would be strictly confidential. I understand the unique pressures black females face that can affect their eating habits.

Let’s talk about what’s going on and the ways I could help with a FREE 15-minute consultation. Or let's just use this as an opportunity to get better acquainted. ?? Use this booking link: https://calendly.com/teriselang/15min

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