Obesity is on the Rise

You can buck the trend with a unique approach to weight loss

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (October 31, 2007) – How many times have you tried to lose weight by dieting? Were you successful or did you give up and gain back more weight than you lost? If you answered the latter, you probably picked up your old bad habits - eating unhealthy foods and not exercising.

You're not alone. Americans are gaining weight in epidemic proportions. In 2006, adult obesity rates rose in 31 states, according to a recent report from the Trust for America's Health. Pennsylvania has the 23^rd highest rate of adult obesity and the 29^th highest rate of overweight children ages 10-17.

"Being overweight is a serious medical issue," says Theresa Piotrowski, M.D., a weight loss physician (bariatrician) at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network (LVHHN). "It's linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea and arthritis."

How can you shed pounds without surgery, take control of your health and avoid being part of the epidemic? Medical weight loss. It treats obesity as a medical condition, allowing you to safely lose weight and keep it off.

How does it work? A weight loss physicians teams up with diet, exercise and behavior specialists to plan a weight loss program that meets your specific needs. "You'll learn to change your habits, make better food choices and increase your activity level," Piotrowski says.

Here are the different pieces to medical weight loss that when put together will help you reach your weight-loss goals:

• metabolic rate testing - measures how many calories your body uses in a day.
• body composition measurement - determines your body fat percentage.
• fitness assessment - tests what you physically can and cannot do while exercising.
• individualized exercise programs - a step-by-step at-home or gym workout designed specifically for you.
• individual and/or group behavior sessions - helps you identify why you overeat or eat unhealthy foods, and offers ways to change your behavior.
• nutrition planning - helps you design your healthy menu.
• long-term weight management and relapse prevention programs - ongoing meetings with specialists and peers help you through struggles you may have after you reach your weight-loss goal.

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