Weight Loss: The Key to Chronic Disease Prevention for Many Adults

Chronic diseases are defined as physical or mental health conditions that persist for longer than one year, necessitating ongoing medical care and adjustments to daily activities. 

Unfortunately, in the United States, chronic diseases are the nation’s leading causes of disability and account for 70% of American deaths every year. These statistics can paint a bleak picture, making it seem inevitable that you’ll develop one or more chronic diseases. 

However, behind many chronic diseases is obesity, which can be addressed through simple but incredibly effective lifestyle changes. While losing weight and making healthier lifestyle choices can’t prevent all chronic diseases, they certainly decrease your risk for many of them, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. 

Charles Stone, MD, and the rest of our team at HealthStone Primary Care Partners in Hollywood, Florida, are passionate about helping our patients live long and healthy lives. So, we’re providing some practical ways to lose weight and keep it off through everyday lifestyle habits in this month’s blog. 

Fuel your body with nutrient-dense foods

Providing your body with the necessary nutrients to function optimally is one of the best things you can do to not only lose weight but also enhance your overall physical health. 

Making changes to your diet can often feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure where to begin. We recommend trying out the Mediterranean diet, a diet plan that offers numerous health benefits. 

When following the Mediterranean diet, you focus on eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, olive oil, and fish. This diet is heart-healthy and can lower body-wide inflammation and blood sugar levels. 

Exercise in a variety of ways

For optimal health and well-being, aim for 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise, such as walking or cycling, per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise, such as running, per week. 

The key to sticking with a healthy exercise routine is to find multiple physical activities that you genuinely enjoy doing and rotate through them each week. If you’re a beginner, start small and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your exercise sessions. 

For variety and balance, incorporate yoga for flexibility and weight training for strength into your workout routines. A variety of exercise types keeps it interesting, and adding more movement to your body in different ways increases the health benefits.

Lower your stress

When trying to lose weight and adopt a healthier lifestyle, it’s essential to find ways to lower your stress levels and manage them in a healthy manner. Chronically high stress levels can cause your body to hold onto weight and keep inflammation levels high, both of which can lead to long-term health issues, such as heart disease. 

It’s important not to manage stress with smoking or heavy alcohol use since those habits are incredibly detrimental to your health. 

Instead, prioritize good sleep and exercise. You can also try out some other helpful relaxation techniques, such as keeping a gratitude journal, practicing mindfulness, and meditating. 

Try our medical weight-loss plans

If you’re trying to lose weight and reduce your risk of chronic diseases, our team is ready and willing to partner with you through our comprehensive medical weight-loss plans. We can create customized nutrition and exercise plans, discover any underlying health issues that may inhibit effective weight loss, and supplement with prescription weight-loss medications as needed. 

To get started with our medical weight-loss program, schedule a consultation with our team by calling our office or using our online booking feature today.