HEALTH FIRST Surgeon Kenneth Tieu, MD, a partner in Health First’s NewFit Surgical Weight Loss Program, and Cardiology Provider Wendy Fiumano, APRN, FNP-C, both say common sense considerations like portion size of meals and stress responses (stress eating, foregoing exercise) are within our control.

When it comes to carrying weight, medicine is steering hard away from “take control of your life” guidance. Many people with body-mass indexes of 35 or higher face significant comorbidities such as diabetes and heart disease that should trigger a medical course of action, experts say, not simply the encouragement to diet, and many with obesity face obstacles to significant weight loss that may not entirely be within their control.

Health First Surgeon Kenneth Tieu, MD, a partner in Health First’s NewFit Surgical Weight Loss Program, and Cardiology Provider Wendy Fiumano, APRN, FNP-C, recently shared some insights with Vero News for a feature headlined, Multidimensional Weight Loss: More than Calories in, Calories out.

 “People don’t think about it on a daily basis, but more and more, data indicates [gut health] plays a big role in obesity.”

While there’s no drug regimen to dramatically change the health of one's gut microbiome, a person can maximize their potential by eating a diverse diet.

Dr. Tieu also said that the Human Genome Project around the turn of the century identified some 500 genes that affect weigh gain.

Getting older and women’s loss of estrogen, and drug courses can also affect metabolism.

Fiumano said any exercise plan that’s intended to check or counter weight gain should include strength training. Similarly, evaluating stress and depression is important when considering the actions leading to weight gain, such as eating more than is necessary, and consuming alcohol.

“Unhealthy lifestyles encourage you to have unhealthy eating habits. Eating too much and drinking too much are offshoots of too much stress, too little sleep and not enough self-care.”

Just as importantly, “Don’t get mad at yourself if you want to indulge for a day. It’s important to have balance in your life,” Fiumano says.

READ the full feature in Vero News HERE.