New Year, New You?
Let's face it, holidays can be one of the biggest contributors to our annual weight gain as adults.1 Think larger portions, less activity, increased snacking1 and increased drinking.2
Alcohol itself can cause weight gain not only because of higher kilojoules, but also because it decreases your body's ability to burn fat. It can make you feel hungrier and can lead to poorer food choices.2
Many of us might be facing 2022 with a renewed motivation to lose those extra holiday kilograms. Some of us might also still be carrying extra weight gained over the last two years due to the lockdowns and restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.3
Factors such as snacking after dinner, lack of dietary restraint, eating in response to stress, and reduced physical activity all added to extra kg and cm for many people around the world.4
But it's a new year, and time for many of us to buckle down and do something about our waist, and our weight.
Waist circumference is a useful screening tool to estimate a person's weight status.5 This type of fat around your middle is linked to fat build up around your organs, and is linked to high blood fat levels. A larger waist can also mean that there could be excess fat inside your organs.6
This type of abdominal obesity is defined as a waist circumference equal or greater than 102 cm for men and 88 cm for women.7
People who have obesity, compared to those with a healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnoea and breathing problems. People who struggle with obesity may also be at an increased risk of mental illness including clinical depression and anxiety.8 Obesity has also long been understood to be associated with increased risk of many types of cancers.9
The good news is that even a modest weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of your total body weight can result in health benefits, including improved blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugars.10 For anyone wanting to lose weight, it is important to remember is that healthy weight loss is more than just about a "diet" or "program".10
Whether you only have 5% of your body weight to lose, or whether you have a lot more with a goal that might seem insurmountable, adoption of long-term lifestyle changes in daily eating and exercise habits should be the ultimate goal.10
When trying to find an effective way to lose weight, options may include weight loss clubs, smart phone apps, personal trainers and nutritionists.11
According to a study published in the journal Family Practice in 2020 in the United States, consulting a dietitian who can help engage you in intensive behavioural therapy to lose weight may be the best option.11 With the obesity pandemic continuing to grow at an alarming rate, and because many people struggle to maintain weight loss with healthy lifestyle changes, pharmacotherapy can play an important role.12
Registered prescription medication can safely kick start your weight loss and, together with long term lifestyle adjustments such as healthy eating and exercise, can help you on your weight loss journey.12
It's a new year. Let the journey to your new you start now! Speak to your doctor about South Africa's leading prescription appetite suppressant.
DISCLAIMER: This editorial has been commissioned and brought to you by iNova Pharmaceuticals. This editorial has content that includes independent comments and opinions from independent healthcare providers and are the opinions and experiences of that particular healthcare provider which are not necessarily that of iNova Pharmaceuticals.
Content in this editorial is for general information only and is not intended to provide medical or other professional advice. For more information on your medical condition and treatment options, speak to your healthcare professional.
Further information is available on request from iNova Pharmaceuticals. Name and business address: iNova Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd. Co. Reg. No. 1952/001640/07. 15E Riley Road, Bedfordview. Tel. No. 011 087 0000. www.inovapharma.co.za. IN4413/22
