Key points:
- Maintaining the ideal weight requires more than will, it requires professional attention
- Overweight could be caused by nutritional, psychological, or even physiological factors, identify its origin
- Overweight and obesity are the fifth death risk factor in the world, according to data from the World Health Organization
It has always been common to use fad diets to lose weight since they sound very simple to follow. They tend to restrict all types of carbohydrates or increase the consumption of proteins and fats, an example of this is the Keto diet. But the reality is that you should be very careful when following a diet without knowing what condition your body is in and its needs because it could result in causing more risks than benefits, despite achieving weight loss.
This usually occurs because people make very drastic changes in their diet in the wrong way, generally, they are not guided by specialists. In addition to this, they seek immediate and not long-term results, which is why it is normal to return to old habits.
Another factor to consider in fad diets is the correct supply of nutrients necessary for its duration; for example, in intermittent fasting, an adequate consumption of protein is necessary, distributing it according to the needs of carbohydrates and fats during the day, depending on the person’s activities; while in vegan or vegetarian diets it is vitally important to seek advice to achieve correct food supplementation and not fall into nutritional deficiencies.
If the diet is not properly controlled, it could result in weight loss, but at the expense of muscle mass, a condition that could result in weight gain over time.
The nutritionist Anayeli Romero Gómez, who is certified in obesity and is a specialist at the ABC Medical Center’s Nutrition and Obesity Center, points out that losing weight is one of the most common purposes at the beginning of the year, but it is also one of the most abandoned. This is because only between 10% and 15% of people manage to maintain the goal throughout the year.
“One of the most recurrent thoughts of people is that the actions they must take are temporary and if they have also made several previous attempts without success, it predisposes them, even more, to abandon the plan, even without trying. In addition to the fact that they are surrounded by information from family, friends, and social media, which also predisposes them to think that it is a difficult process”, explains Anayeli Romero.
On average the patient remains motivated for three months to achieve the ideal weight, but after this time consistency with a diet, exercise, or change in eating habits decreases considerably. The reality is it takes a minimum of a year to make these changes a habit.
On the other hand, correct weight loss is not only a matter of what we eat, but many circumstances also lead to weight gain and the reason for this must be found.
Anayeli Romero recommends following a diet under the supervision of a nutritionist or specialists, who will evaluate the person’s physical condition, which could include a blood test and verify body composition to find out if there is any metabolic disorder to consider. “Monitoring is important to find out if there are alterations with which you can decide which diet is the most convenient,” she says.
An initial evaluation will be performed when attending the ABC Medical Center’s Nutrition and Obesity Center, which includes internal medicine to evaluate the patient’s conditions. Additionally, a sports doctor will intervene to determine the type of exercise that could work best for you; you will receive psychological care focused on reviewing the factors that have led the patient to develop obesity or overweight, a situation that can lead to anxiety or stress. Finally, in the nutrition area, the current diet and the modifications that need to be made to achieve weight loss will be assessed, looking for the person to feel part of their treatment and be able to make their own decisions.
As an additional measure, laboratory tests are performed at ABC Medical Center that will allow determining the levels of thyroid hormones, which could have some alteration and be the cause of overweight or obesity.
At ABC Medical Center’s Nutrition & Obesity Center, we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
Fuentes:
Dr. Paul David Uribe Jaimes, a neurologist at the ABC Medical Center.
https://revista.nutricion.org/PDF/DIETAS-CETOGENICAS.pdf
