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Lisa DeRosimo, MD, MS of Pinecrest’s Weight & Wellness Centers of South Florida has a few weighty thoughts to share with us on the subject of obesity.
“Eat a variety of foods in moderation, especially fruits and vegetables that are fresh and locally grown. And get moving,” she says. “Many people don’t take action to lose weight until they start experiencing health problems while others want to lose weight to look or feel better. There is no magic bullet. To make a lasting change requires making adjustments to one’s eating habits and getting more exercise.”
As a weight management doctor, Dr. DeRosimo has helped thousands of people lose weight to live healthier lives and achieve their full potential. Since 1989, she has focused her medical career on weight management for adults and children by tailoring her care to the needs and goals of each patient. Dr. DeRosimo is the former Medical Director of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and former Chair of the American Board of Bariatric Medicine.
Overweight and obesity are a chronic and multi-faceted illness defined by the World Health Organization as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that can impair health. Obesity, which is preventable, affects 40 percent of Americans and is a growing problem in this country and around the world that can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, breathing and cardiac problems.
According to Dr. DeRosimo, the body mass index (BMI) is the universal standard for determining overweight and obesity.
“Looking at one’s weight in relation to height is still the best way to make an objective measurement,” she says. “According to the World Health Organization, if your BMI is over 25, you’re overweight and if it’s over 30, that signals obesity. And there are levels of obesity after that.”
There are five pillars of weight management, she explains. The first three are familiar to most people: eating healthy food, exercising and making lifestyle changes. The other two, medication and surgery, require the intervention of a physician like Dr. DeRosimo.
“The best diet is the one you will stick with long term. And the best exercises are the ones you will do regularly. What was once known as the Atkins Diet is now called Keto. But not everybody can stick with low carb diets. And now, if you skip breakfast, they call it intermittent fasting,” she says with a laugh.
According to Dr. DeRosimo, everyone should exercise a minimum of 30 minutes per day, and up to an hour daily in order to lose weight and keep if off. Those who sit at a desk at work should make it a point to move around throughout the day during breaks. Losing one to three pounds of weight per week is a realistic goal, she advises.
“When starting an exercise routine, try something you enjoy. Walking is the easiest and least expensive. If you like to dance, find a partner and dance. Accountability is also very important. Find an exercise buddy and work out together.”
A good night’s sleep is also very important for those trying to lose weight. “You should be getting from six to eight hours, the more the better,” says Dr. DeRosimo. “Between 2 and 4 a.m. the body is resetting its cortisol levels. That’s why shift workers have a harder time losing weight because they’re awake at that time.”
Weight loss medications have been around since the 1940s, when stimulants were introduced and in the 1990s, fen-phen was the rage. Many are no longer prescribed due to dangerous side effects. In recent years, however, several new classes of medications such as GLP-1 receptor agonists have become available. Their use must be closely monitored by a physician and need to be combined with diet, exercise and health lifestyle changes.
“The fifth pillar of weight management, bariatric surgery, is the option of last resort, after the first four pillars have been addressed,” explains Dr. DeRosimo. “Remember, the best solution for long term weight management is the one you will continue for the rest of your life.”
For more information, please visit Weight and Wellness Centers of South Florida located at 12683 South Dixie Highway in Pinecrest.
