The Dangers of Obesity and Why Weight Loss is Important

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States over the last few decades. This is due to diet, a sedentary lifestyle, genetics, the early cessation of breastfeeding and lack of physical activity. People are consuming more processed foods than ever before and organic whole foods are often pricey. Walking, biking or running has become more of a leisure type of activity, rather than a necessity to get from one place to the next. Our reliance on technology for work and leisure leads to more time sitting in front of a computer, tablet or phone. Research shows that exclusively breastfeeding an infant leads to a decreased risk of obesity from childhood through adulthood, yet only 13% of infants are fed breastmilk with no supplementation after 6 months of age. While this portrait of our society may seem grim, these are all factors that can be changed with education and an adjustment to lifestyle and diet. Being overweight or obese can be rectified with motivation to lose weight and a shift to a healthier lifestyle and diet.

Dr. Pacholec has motivated and medically assisted patients to lose weight for over 20 years in her Lutz, FL and Saint Petersburg, FL offices. These 7 deadly diseases, including diabetes Type 2, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cancer, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis and fatty liver disease, are all diseases directly correlated with obesity. Weight loss can help prevent you from developing these disorders in the future and can even help reverse certain diseases once a patient loses weight. The best way to lose weight and keep it off in a safe and effective manner is with medical help, so call Dr. Pacholec today at either her Lutz, FL or Saint Petersburg, FL location to get started on your weight loss transformation!

Am I overweight or obese?
Measuring your Body Mass Index (BMI) is one quick and easy way to determine if you classify as “overweight” or “obese”. Even people who look outwardly skinny, may still have a high BMI depending on how much body fat they are storing. Dr. Pacholec measures BMI using a sophisticated bio-impedance test in both her Saint Petersburg, FL and Lutz, FL offices, that sends a painless electrical current through the body in a matter of seconds to detect body fat and mass. The computer then calculates a person’s BMI, along with a suite of other data, including lean body mass, body fat percentage, and muscle mass. A healthy BMI is considered 20-25, an overweight BMI is considered 25-30, a severely overweight BMI is considered 30-40 and anything over 40 is considered obese. Instead of focusing on losing pounds, it is better to focus on lowering your BMI. An increased BMI is what makes you more susceptible to these diseases. At both Dr. Pacholec’s Saint Petersburg, FL and Lutz, FL locations, Dr. Pacholec focuses on decreasing a patient’s BMI and increasing lean body mass, which equates to the percentage of a person’s weight attributed to bones and muscles. Dr. Pacholec recommends a diet rich in organic produce, meat and diary (when appropriate), lowering one’s caloric intake, decreasing belly fat, and regular exercise to help lower BMI and increase lean body mass. Dr. Pacholec may also prescribe appetite suppressants to assist in weight loss, which she dispenses from both her Saint Petersburg, FL and Lutz, FL locations. 

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