Beyond the Scale: 4 Ways to Measure Your Weight Loss Success This Year

Overweight and obesity can lead to serious health problems. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines them as having “excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health.”

In 2019, the WHO estimates that 5 million deaths from noncommunicable diseases that include cardiovascular disease and diabetes were caused by a high body mass index (BMI), a means of calculating body fat.

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that, in the United States, 1 in 5 children and 1 in 3 adults are obese, with the associated risks of heart disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), Type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer.

At Sidhu Psychiatric Clinic in Palm Harbor, Florida, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Kanwaljit “Kavi” Sidhu, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, and our staff offer a medical weight loss program for our patients who are overweight or obese and have difficulty shedding the weight on their own.

As losing weight is a common New Year’s resolution, we’d like to discuss four ways you can measure your weight loss success this coming year.

Causes of overweight and obesity

There are certain factors that lead to being overweight that are beyond your control, such as genetics, metabolic rate, and hormones. However, for most people, it occurs because they consume more calories every day than they expend. The body stores the extra calories as fat.

In the United States, most people eat an unhealthy and high-calorie diet, often from fast food and sugared beverages. In addition, those who are obese might eat more calories before feeling full, get hungry sooner, or eat to relieve stress or anxiety.

What is medical weight loss?

Medical weight loss is a program run by a healthcare professional designed to help you safely lose weight and keep it off. They also provide the accountability that’s missing when you try to lose weight on your own.

At Sidhu Psychiatric Clinic, Kavi starts with a complete medical exam and extensive testing to determine if you’re deficient in certain nutrients or if you have other weight-related problems that should be addressed before you start the program.

She also uses the initial assessment to get your input, as well, such as your body image and weight loss goals. That way, she can tailor the treatment plan to that information. In addition, she’s a source of specialized knowledge that includes nutrition, supplements, and prescription medications (i.e., the GLP-1 agonists) that can make your weight loss journey easier.

4 ways to measure your weight loss success

Losing weight on your own may be one of the most common New Year’s resolutions, but it’s also one of the first that falls by the wayside. Participating in a medical weight loss program, though, can help you keep on going and see success. Here are four ways you can measure that success.

1. By the numbers

Losing just 5-10% of your body weight can decrease your risk for heart disease and help your cells become less resistant to insulin. Simple blood tests can measure things like cholesterol level and blood sugar, which will verify the decreased risks, and a standard blood pressure reading can indicate that your heart is having an easier time pumping blood.

2. Being mindful

In our fast-paced culture, we often eat whatever’s at hand and don’t think much about what we’re putting in our mouths. Being mindful of the food you eat, taking your time to chew fully, and choosing lower-fat or lower-sugar options can help you drop the pounds. If you’re thinking about what you’re eating and when, that’s a measure of success.

3. Change your relationship with food

Many people eat when they get stressed, depressed, or angry, and at those times, we go for comfort foods like cookies, sodas, fried foods, and highly processed treats. To lose weight and improve your health, it’s important to look for other outlets to destress, and, if you’re going for food, choose healthier options like fruit and vegetables.

Kavi can help you examine your relationship with food and make changes to improve your nutrition.

4. Better self-esteem

Many people who are overweight or obese have low self-esteem, either because they don’t like what they see in the mirror, or because other people insensitively make rude comments about their weight.

Losing even a little bit of weight can help you feel like you’re moving in the right direction. Maybe you can finally fit into some of the clothes you want to wear or don’t feel embarrassed showing a little skin.

And the great thing about good self-esteem? It works in a positive feedback loop. The better you feel about yourself, the more you’ll do to help yourself feel even better.

Ready to lose weight for the new year? The team at Sidhu Psychiatric Clinic can help. Call our office at 727-382-1383 or contact us online today.