healthy lifestyle

Newly Approved Drug for Chronic Weight Management: What You Need to Know

By Dr. Robert Kushner / June 12, 2021 /

The most effective medication for overweight and obesity that we’ve seen, semaglutide 2.4 mg (released under the trade name Wegovy®) has just been approved by the FDA for chronic weight management. This is the first medication for obesity approved by the FDA since 2014. Compared to other weight loss drugs currently on the market which…

The Food-Mood Connection and Your Health

By Dr. Robert Kushner / June 5, 2021 /

As reported in the New York Times, new research in the field of nutritional psychiatry is linking the foods you eat with one’s mood and mental health. Though this field is in its infancy, it’s intriguing to think that choosing healthier foods could not only boost your health but may also make you feel better.…

Control What You Can Control

By Dr. Robert Kushner / May 21, 2021 /

So much in life is outside of our control such as where we are born, who our parents are and our genetic makeup. When taking a family history, I always ask about my patient’s family members and whether or not others in the family have weight problems. If your family members have also struggled with…

Put a Spring in Your Workout Steps

By Dr. Robert Kushner / April 18, 2021 /

Though Spring is in the air as the weather gets nicer, you may find yourself still struggling with staying active. Different people have diverse reasons for not exercising regularly. Maybe competing demands like family or work responsibilities take precedence over your self- care routine. Sometimes feeling tired or having a low mood can sap your…

Time to Move Beyond the ‘Eat Less, Move More’ Weight Loss Message

By Dr. Robert Kushner / April 11, 2021 /

When I hear physicians state that their patients just need to learn how to ‘eat less and move more’ to lose weight, I think about how much this message oversimplifies and under-delivers in offering real help to people who struggle with weight. This message reveals a misunderstanding about the complexity of overweight and obesity that…

Get Healthier, Better Manage Weight by Tapping into Your Strengths

By Dr. Robert Kushner / April 3, 2021 /

Too many times, people can feel defeated in their quest for better health. Maybe they have difficulty choosing the right foods or struggle sticking with an exercise program. Or maybe stress keeps getting in the way of their good intentions. A lack of confidence can cause many to throw in the towel and give up…

To Lose Weight & Get Healthier, First Talk to Your PCP

By Dr. Robert Kushner / February 7, 2021 /

If you’re looking to lose weight and boost your health, I highly recommend you start this journey by meeting with your primary care provider (PCP). This is a topic I’m passionate about as I have spent a bulk of my career training PCPs on how to take on a bigger role in helping their patients…

Better Self Care, Better Health

By Dr. Robert Kushner / February 2, 2021 /

You’re already probably used to taking care of others – your children, an ailing parent, a friend or even your pet. Now it’s time to start treating yourself better too. In my 40 + years treating patients, I’ve found that those who make time for self-care, do better managing weight and boosting health than those…

Pick Low Hanging Fruit for a Healthier Life

By Dr. Robert Kushner / January 21, 2021 /

If you’re trying to boost your health but don’t have the motivation, time or interest to completely overhaul your lifestyle, a helpful strategy is to pick simpler lifestyle tweaks that require less effort. I refer to this as ‘picking the low hanging fruit’ or simpler strategies that are easier to implement. Here are some examples:…

Budget Friendly Healthy Eating & Exercise Tips

By Dr. Robert Kushner / January 10, 2021 /

Is a healthy lifestyle expensive? Because we live in a world where tasty, tempting foods high in calories, fat, salt and sugar are abundant and cheap while a physically active lifestyle seems out of reach for those unable to afford an expensive fitness club membership or home exercise equipment, many people think it is. But…