Read More About Maria:
| Age | 40 |
| Lifecycle Path | Non-Surgical Weight Loss/Behavior Modification |
| BMI | Over 30 |
| Weight Loss Wish | 75 lbs or more |
| Wish After Weight Loss | To be more confident; To be healthy enough to learn to swim for the first time. |
| * BMI scoring categories are based on guidelines established by the National Institute of Health. [ Understand more » ] |
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Skinny Wishes Profile Results
| Related Chronic Conditions | Diabetes; hypertension; severe knee problems |
| Previous Weight Loss Attempts | Ongoing dieting |
| Total Amount of Time Trying to Lose Weight | 15 years |
| Physical Activity | Minimal; Does not enjoy physical activity |
| Current Participation in Support Groups | None |
| Participation in Medically Supervised Programs | Primary care provider |
| Insurance? | Yes |
Next Steps
Maria is considered obese with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than 30. Maria’s struggle with obesity has caused major health complications including Type 2 Diabetes. In addition, she suffers from hypertension and severe knee and joint problems making it difficult for her to move about. Concerned about her declining health, Maria has finally decided to get serious about her weight issue. Maria has decided on a non-medical weight loss program or behavior modification approach after consulting with her primary care physician and together determining that her BMI (of 30) does not make her an ideal candidate for medical weight loss surgery. Maria’s behavior modification program may consist of the following:
(Note that when behavior modification components are combined and not done independently of each other, the weight loss results are significantly better).
Exercise therapy: It is crucial for Maria to incorporate regular exercise into her weight loss program. Most doctors and specialists advocate at least 20 minutes of exercise at least three times a week for weight loss or weight loss maintenance. But for individuals like Maria who have a sedentary lifestyle, even walking for 10 minutes a day has health benefits. It is recommended that Maria or anyone who wants to stick with a long term physical activity plan choose an exercise that she enjoy such as walking, biking or hiking and that she begin slowly two to three times per week. It is also recommended that Maria chart her progress, whether it's with a high-tech online tracker or a journal so she can start seeing incremental improvements.
Maria might consider joining a gym or taking classes which might contribute to her motivation. If she can’t afford monthly membership fees, she might consider calling her insurance care provider. Some providers may cover a portion of gym membership fees.
Note that individual activity goals depend upon each person's health and weight goals and issues. Begin by checking with your doctor to get a green light on which activities would be suitable for you.
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Diet modification: Most specialists agree that almost any diet plan will be effective provided that it is relatively low in calories, saturated fats and high in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. In addition, patients must be motivated to make changes that will last for the rest of their lives. While it may be as simple as embracing the back to basics idea of cutting calories to losing weight, Maria might need a structured diet program since she has struggled with weight issues since adulthood. Several popular diet programs include:
- Weight Watchers
- Slim Fast
- Jenny Craig
- South Beach
- Dean Ornish
- Five-Factor
There are also specialized diet delivery programs including ZoneChefs, NutriSystem and Nu-Kitchen that can provide customized, flexible meals right to Maria’s door. Before deciding on which diet program is appropriate, Maria might consider doing some research on the Internet or going to the bookstore.
In addition, there are online diet trackers including CalorieKing, CalorieCount, SparkPeople, and NutritionData that provides free diet and health information such as nutritional information, healthy recipes, and food journals to help Maria stay on track.
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Diet Pills/Herbal Remedies: There are many over-the-counter weight-loss products and herbal remedies for sale. Before Maria considers using OTC medication/herbal remedies, she should evaluate the following before making her decision:
- No OTC drug/herbal medication has been proven to be effective for everyone.
- Most OTC drug/herbal medication that is purchased is not regulated.
It is highly recommended that Maria speak to her physician to help decide if taking OTC medication or herbal remedies makes sense as part of her weight loss plan.
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Support Groups: Support groups have been shown to be a successful part of weight loss programs. Maria would like to participate in a weight loss support group to provide her with a sense of community by meeting individuals with similar experiences that she won’t get attempting to lose weight by herself. Maria can find ongoing support and motivation which may help her with her long term weight loss goal. Maria might consider joining either a non-clinical support group or online obesity support group if she prefers being anonymous.
For additional information log onto Obesity Coalition at ObesityAction.org or OvereatersAnonymous at OA.org. In addition, contact your health insurance or health care provider.
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Weight management: Individuals who participate in a maintenance program do far better with a success rate of approximately 60% after three years, according to research. The primary mistake for Maria to make once she loses a significant amount of weight is to think that she’s "done," and that she no longer has to choose her food responsibly or exercise. Maria must consider a long-term maintenance program especially since she has struggled with dieting for most of her adult life. In order for her to maintain her weight loss, she must think of obesity as a serious and chronic disease like hypertension or diabetes.
Studies have shown that the most important factors are self monitoring (food records) and regular physical activity for at least twenty to thirty minutes per day at a minimum of three to four days per week. It is recommended that Maria continue her healthy eating patterns and exercise as her lifestyle changes must be continually reinforced in order for her to maintain her weight loss for the rest of her life. Diets such as Weight Watchers, Slim Fast and South Beach include “maintenance” programs for individuals who have reached their goal weight and are transitioning into a weight management program.
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Learning at Skinny Wishes
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