Dr. Robert Kushner
Shared decision-making is a process whereby health care providers take into account each person’s personal preferences, priorities and goals before selecting a specific treatment plan. As a weight management expert, it’s a process I’ve been using for most of my career to help my patients lose weight and get healthier. Getting to know each patient…
With all the exciting new drugs being developed to help people better manage weight, you may wonder if the time you’re spending on improving health habits are still worth your time and effort. Choosing healthier foods, becoming more active, getting more hours of restful sleep and better managing stress do take lots of time and…
In my practice, patients often have high hopes of losing a large amount of weight in a short period of time. I tell them that it’s important to have realistic expectations about what is practical and achievable; otherwise, they will be disappointed. I also discuss the importance of putting weight into the context of overall…
If you’re someone who struggles with weight, you may also struggle talking about weight with your health care provider. I know this because for the past 40 years I have talked to thousands of patients about weight and have seen firsthand how difficult this conversation can be for many individuals. Difficulties can range from people…
I recently gave a webinar presentation for The Obesity Society on personalization in weight management. I shared the latest research on the importance of taking into account each person’s traits, habits and attitudes when developing an individualized treatment plan. One size does not fit all when it comes to helping people manage weight. I also…
In counseling my patients to improve their health and better manage weight, I always ask about each person’s physical activity habits. More specifically, I ask, “On a typical day, what’s the most physically active thing you do?” I encourage my patients to think about developing a ‘movement portfolio’ of varying activities that get their bodies…
Self-care is your ability to give your mind and body what they need in order to stay healthy. This includes eating well, being active, de-stressing, getting enough sleep and engaging in leisure-time activities that bring you joy and help re-charge your batteries. Healthy eating and living are all about finding foods and activities you enjoy…
If you’re someone who hates to exercise, know it will improve your health but can’t seem to get yourself to do it, read on. For the past 40 + years I’ve been counseling patients on the detrimental effects of being inactive. What is now known is that too much sitting, also called sedentariness, is an…
In my practice, stress and coping are topics I regularly address. I try and help patients see the connection between their life stressors, coping skills and overall health. The goal is to help patients cope more healthfully and keep the positive focus they need to maintain their healthy lifestyle habits. If life stressors impair your…
We know that to improve health and manage weight better, adding more plant-based foods to your daily diet is a winning strategy. That’s because these good-for-you foods are generally lower in calorie density and higher in vitamins, minerals, disease-fighting phytochemicals and fiber than the foods they end up displacing such as meats and fried foods…
