Six Factor Quiz
In the 40+ years I’ve been practicing, recent clinician interest in providing obesity care has soared off the charts. I see it in the varied healthcare professional groups I speak to at conferences and through lectures and podcasts. Though the exciting new obesity medications may be what spurred initial interest, clinicians are also seeking guidance…
I learned long ago that generic weight loss advice doesn’t work well for most people. That’s because managing weight is personal, influenced by your likes and dislikes, health goals and personal challenges. This applies whether or not you’re taking one of the newer anti-obesity medications. I wrote my book, Six Factors to Fit: Weight Loss that Works…
When I see patients who are doing well following their new healthy lifestyle behaviors but complain that the scale isn’t budging fast enough, I ask them to make a list. On one side are all the positives they’ve been experiencing with their newfound healthier lifestyle such as being more active, easier to sit in an…
Improving one’s lifestyle habits is foundational to all weight management treatment modalities, whether you’re taking a new weight loss medication or even undergoing bariatric surgery. I spend a lot of time talking to my patients to help them figure out the best mix of weight management strategies that fit their life and lifestyle habits. If…
A common misperception my patients struggle with is thinking they have to strive for perfection in order to be successful managing weight and boosting health. But this perfectionistic mindset only sets you up for failure because eating and exercise rarely go perfectly each and every day. Since managing weight tends to be a lifelong endeavor,…
Whether you’re a patient or a provider, you know how quickly time can pass during a health care encounter. Your provider’s priorities may be to discuss your chief complaint, medications, lab results and other chronic medical problems. This doesn’t leave a lot of time to counsel you on managing weight. That’s why I recommend that…
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…
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…
As we look forward to welcoming in a new year, improving one’s health, weight and lifestyle are on many of our to-do lists. With a new year come thoughts of a new and better you. But how do you get started? Though each person has his or her own issues to tackle and goals to…
When I set out to develop an assessment tool for people struggling with excess weight and the clinicians who treat them, I wanted to develop a tool that was quick to complete and easy to use. This tool had to also address how to help people pinpoint which lifestyle habits they need to change to…
