Skinny Wishes Profile Results

Background

While Jonathan used to be a college athlete, a severe injury sidelined him and suddenly forced him to decrease his physical activity. Continuing to consume food as if he were still training, Jonathan quickly packed on the pounds and found himself with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 40 several years later. After consulting with his primary care physician and deciding against surgery, Jonathan entered a doctor assisted weight loss program that provided him with a customized nutrition and exercise program that fit his lifestyle. He successfully lost 140 lbs.

Next Steps

Weight loss is an ongoing journey which requires a lifelong commitment to healthy eating and lifestyle habits. There is a general perception that almost no one succeeds in long-term weight loss maintenance. Research, however, has shown that approximately 20% of overweight individuals are successful at long-term weight loss when defined as losing at least 10% of initial body weight and maintaining the loss for at least 1 year. There are strategies used by successful weight loss maintainers to achieve and maintain long-term weight loss. For Jonathan to maintain his weight loss, his must engage in the following:

• Participate in high levels of physical activity (at least 30 min/day).
• Eat a low-calorie, low-fat diet including eating breakfast regularly.
• Eating breakfast has been shown to reduce hunger later in the day, making it easier to avoid overeating at night.
• Avoid returning to fad dieting and stick to focusing on foods that are nutrient dense and healthy including whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
• Maintain a consistent eating pattern across weekdays and weekends.
• Self-monitor weight. It is recommended that Jonathan weight himself once per week to keep track of his weight on a regular basis.
• Keep a food journal. By recording what is consumed and how much, hunger levels prior to eating and any feelings and emotions present at the time, a journal can provide a substantial amount of self-awareness by identifying feelings and behaviors that may trigger over-eating.
• Join a weight loss support group. Support groups have been shown to be a successful part of long term weight loss maintenance and can provide Jonathan with a sense of support and motivation.
  • There are organizations including Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig that offer support groups. There are many online community groups including SparkPeople and Wellsphere.
  • In addition, consider checking with a local hospital to see if its in-house nutritionist conducts group weight loss programs.
• Stay focused on being healthy. It is critical for Jonathan who wants to maintain his weight loss to shift his thinking from wanting to be thinner to being healthier. Jonathan should consider the importance about what goes into his body and keeping it healthy rather than worrying about how it will look in a certain size or what it might weigh.

For now, Jonathan is celebrating his tremendous achievement of weight loss. But his massive weight loss has posed a problem of its own. He is left with large folds of excess skin. Jonathan is considering bariatric plastic surgery procedure or lipoplasty (liposuction) which can help to reshape his body. Some important factors for Jonathan to consider include:

The Cost of Plastic Surgery Procedures

The price of a procedure depends on several factors including the body part, plastic surgeon, hospital, etc. The cost is unlikely to become clear until Jonathan has been examined by the surgeon or hospital. Some costs include surgeon’s fee, anesthesiologist’s fee, operating room fee and hospital costs. It is highly recommended that he speak with his insurance and doctor before making a decision.

Approximate Cost of Plastic Surgery*

• Abdominoplasty/tummy tuck: $5000
• Body lift: $8,000
• Breast Reduction (Women): $5,000
• Buttock Lift: $5,000
• Lipoplasty/Liposuction: $2,500

*Approximate figures

(Source: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery)

Health Insurance

Health insurance typically covers reconstructive plastic surgery procedures while cosmetic procedures are not. It is highly recommend that Jonathan speak to his health insurance regarding coverage.

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