The Impact of Excess Weight On Your Health and How We Can Help You Lose It
Half of all Americans attempt to shed excess weight each year, and many of those people find that reaching their weight loss goals isn’t easy, even with diet and exercise.
But holding on to that excess weight isn’t good. Carrying excess body weight isn’t just a cosmetic concern: It can pose real health threats if you don’t address it.
Gastroenterologist Eric Ibegbu, MD, and our team here at Atlantic Medical Group in Kinston and Jacksonville, North Carolina, know firsthand how excess weight wreaks havoc on your overall wellness.
That’s why we offer weight loss services as well as nonsurgical weight loss procedures that can help you reach your goals.
Below, we highlight the impact of excess weight on your health and how we can help.
The impact of excess weight on your health
Excess weight can take a toll on your mental and physical wellness. Being overweight or obese can affect many body systems, including your respiratory, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems.
This can lead to:
- An increased risk of developing certain diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers
- An increased risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke
- The development of depression or anxiety
- A reduction in your quality of sleep, which could lead to sleep apnea
- Back pain and worsening arthritis
- Increased headaches and risk of dementia
- Heavy periods in women and prostate issues in men
- Digestive issues, especially reflux disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, colon polyps, and Barrett’s esophagus
This is just a small sample of how excess weight can affect your overall health.
How we can help you lose weight
Losing just 5-10% of your total body weight can profoundly improve your mental and physical health. But our team here at Atlantic Medical Group knows that losing weight isn’t always easy.
Dealing with underlying health conditions and simply not knowing where to start can be overwhelming. That’s where we come into the picture.
The first step is to determine what your baseline is and what your overall goals are. If your body mass index (BMI) is 25 or more, you may need to lose weight. A normal BMI is 18.5 to 24.9. A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese, and weight loss is even more critical.
Depending on your current BMI and your overall goals, Dr. Ibegbu can help you lose weight through:
- Lifestyle modifications and specific guidance for your needs
- Xyngular nutritional supplements
- Treatments for underlying gastrointestinal issues, such as acid reflux disease
- Nonsurgical weight loss options
Dr. Ibegbu is also uniquely qualified to help those who have regained weight after previous weight loss surgeries.
Nonsurgical weight loss options
We offer many different types of nonsurgical weight loss options, including:
Orbera
Orbera is a non-permanent, silicone balloon-based weight loss system designed to help you learn correct portion sizes without any surgical interventions. The Orbera balloon can help you lose up to three times as much weight compared to diet and exercise alone.
Spatz3®
This is an adjustable balloon system that can change the volume of your balloon (higher or lower) to meet your needs. Individuals who use the Spatz3 system can lose up to five times more weight than through diet alone. That’s because the balloon can adjust and help patients through the dreaded weight plateau.
Obalon® balloon system
The Obalon® balloon system is an FDA-approved swallowable three-balloon system for weight loss. This balloon can help you lose weight without incisions or sutures.
Take the first step today
Losing weight may help you feel more confident in your own skin, but the most important aspect of weight loss is the effect it has on your mental and physical health.
Maintaining a healthy weight can help you avoid obesity-related conditions, and in some cases, losing weight can help you eliminate issues you already have. For example, losing weight can reduce the severity of sleep apnea symptoms.
To get the support you need, schedule a weight loss consultation with Dr. Ibegbu. During your consultation, he reviews your weight loss goals, reviews your personal and family history, and helps determine the weight solutions that are best for you.
To learn more about nonsurgical weight loss, call the location of your choice or schedule an appointment online.