Today in my blog I’m going to start exploring the complex and sensitive issues surrounding weight management, popular weight management drugs and obesity.
Having worked as a Personal Trainer for the past 10 years, and also the last 3 years as a Health Coach, I’ve learned a lot from clients, friends, continued education and of course, the media, press, podcasts, books, TV shows, etc.
My views on this subject have evolved significantly over the years; I hope to share my insights helpfully and compassionately. I am a fitness professional with behavior specialist qualifications not a doctor, nor am I a certified nutritionist.
It has been more than a decade since the American Medical Association confirmed that obesity is a complex, chronic disease. The rest of the world seems to be still struggling with this as a statement of fact. Read that part again please “obesity is a complex, chronic disease”
Let’s get really technical:
“Clinical obesity is a chronic, systemic illness characterized by alterations in the function of tissues, organs, or the individual, due to excessive or abnormal adiposity.”
Adiposity refers to the state of having excessive fat or overweight due to an accumulation of excess body fat. Switch gears to what we notice in ourselves and others in reality, judgements based on appearance, mood, biases, what the media tells us, etc
Defining obesity as having a BMI above 30 created as many problems as it solved. It reinforces the unfortunate tendency of people to focus on the superficial appearance of obesity rather than health.
BMI has its place as a tool however it certainly does not define clinical obesity.
Obesity is a worldwide epidemic. In 2022 the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 1 in 8 people worldwide were living with obesity. This is more than double the rate of adult obesity since 1990 and quadruple the rate of adolescent obesity.
Fat shaming / fat bias and misconceptions are everywhere. When I say I have learned so much I will admit decades ago I was inclined to nod when I heard or read “eat less – move more”
It is NOT this. This is NOT the answer.
Obesity is a complex and chronic disease. It is multifactorial: genetic, environmental, behavioral, socioeconomic, physiological.
There are so many articles on why we eat, beyond the physical hunger & need to fuel our body. Most of us can relate to at least one, if not most of these; emotional comfort, social interaction, cultural & traditional reasons, reward & pleasure, habit & routine, mindless eating, etc
Not my intention to demonize these, simply to acknowledge they contribute to the obesity epidemic at this time.
GLP-1’s such as Ozempic, Mounjaro, Semaglutide etc are often quoted or viewed as “cheating” or an easy way out. What?! They are NOT.
There are a personal and medical decision prescribed by a board certified, obesity doctor – American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM)
As I said previously, I’m a fitness professional not a medical professional – it is for them and the individual to carefully consider the impact / side effects / benefits, all the implications of taking meds so I’ll leave that there & suggesting others do too.
What I do know and I’m certain you do too, nutrition ie what you eat, and movement / exercise matters. Whether you are with or without obesity, with or without medication we ALL need to move, to work our bodies to maintain health and wellbeing. Strength training is important at every stage of life, it looks very different at different stages and for anyone 40+ you’ll know maintaining muscle gets more challenging and is critical. I could talk all day long on this one so again, I’ll leave that there (for now!)
Whatever peoples views, what we don’t need in the midst of struggle &/or having a disease, is shame, stigma and discrimination. With shame and stigma a person is set apart from others. Stigma also prevents all of us from moving forward into the world, feeling whole and capable of change / wellbeing. So whether a person is stigmatized for having obesity or for taking a prescribed drug to help manage disease it is never going to be part of the solution. Let’s stop with the shaming.
Societies views on this disease, weight loss medications, and this highly emotive subject will hopefully start to change sometime soon. I certainly want to be part of that change. Writing this blog may seem inconsequential, however those of you who know me or follow me know the power of “micro steps”
Small progressive steps lead to lasting change.