*Sponsored Post by iNova Pharmaceuticals*

Winter, holidays and cold weather can be some of the biggest contributors to our annual weight gain as adults¹. Think larger portions, less activity, increased snacking¹ and increased drinking². Alcohol itself can cause weight gain not only because of higher kilojoules but also because it decreases your body’s ability to burn fat. It can make you feel hungrier and can lead to poorer food choices².

Many of us may have started 2022 with a renewed motivation to lose those extra holiday kilograms. Some of us might also still be carrying extra weight gained over the last two years due to the lockdowns and restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic³.

Factors such as snacking after dinner, lack of dietary restraint, eating in response to stress, and reduced physical activity all added to extra kg and cm for many people around the world⁴.

But with almost half of the year already passed, it’s time for many of us to buckle down and do something about our waist, and our weight. It’s time to commit.

Waist circumference is a useful screening tool to estimate a person’s weight status⁵. This type of fat around your middle is linked to fat build-up around your organs and is linked to high blood fat levels. A larger waist can also mean that there could be excess fat inside your organs⁶.

This type of abdominal obesity is defined as a waist circumference equal to or greater than 102 cm for men and 88 cm for women⁷.

People who are obese, compared to those with a healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, and sleep apnoea and breathing problems. People who struggle with obesity may also be at an increased risk of mental illness including clinical depression and anxiety⁸. Obesity has also long been understood to be associated with an increased risk of many types of cancers⁹.

The good news is that even modest weight loss of 5 to 10 percent of your total body weight can result in health benefits, including improved blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugars¹⁰.

For anyone wanting to lose weight, it is important to remember that healthy weight loss is more than just about a “diet” or “program”¹⁰.

Whether you only have 5% of your body weight to lose, or whether you have a lot more with a goal that might seem insurmountable, adoption of long-term lifestyle changes in daily eating and exercise habits should be the ultimate goal¹⁰. The key is to start with small incremental changes that are sustainable.

When trying to find an effective way to lose weight, options may include weight loss clubs, smartphone apps, personal trainers and nutritionists¹¹.

According to a study published in the journal Family Practice in 2020 in the United States, consulting a dietitian who can help engage you in intensive behavioural therapy to lose weight may be the best option¹¹.

With the obesity pandemic continuing to grow at an alarming rate, and because many people struggle to maintain weight loss with healthy lifestyle changes, weight loss medication can play an important role¹².

Registered prescription medication can kick-start your weight loss and, together with long-term lifestyle adjustments such as healthy eating and exercise, could help you on your weight loss journey¹².

Make the commitment to yourself and let the journey to a healthy new you start now! Speak to your doctor about South Africa’s leading prescription appetite suppressant¹³ and make an appointment with a dietician about how to make the necessary nutritional changes to your diet.

Go to www.ilivelite.co.za for more information, to check your BMI and weight circumference and get access to professionally developed dietary guidelines and other useful tools.

Visit iLiveLite on Facebook.

DISCLAIMER: This editorial has been commissioned and brought to you by iNova Pharmaceuticals. This editorial has content that includes independent comments and opinions from independent healthcare providers and are the opinions and experiences of that particular healthcare provider which are not necessarily that of iNova Pharmaceuticals.

Content in this editorial is for general information only and is not intended to provide medical or other professional advice. For more information on your medical condition and treatment options, speak to your healthcare professional.

Further information is available on request from iNova Pharmaceuticals. Name and business address: iNova Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd. Co. Reg. No. 1952/001640/07. 15E Riley Road, Bedfordview. Tel. No. 011 087 0000. www.inovapharma.co.za. IN4413/22

References:

Healthline. 20 Ways to Avoid Weight Gain During the Holidays (2019) at https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/tips-to-avoid-holiday-weight-gain (Website accessed on 29 November 2021)
Alcohol and Weight Gain. Victoria State Government Department of Health (2021) athttps://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/Alcohol-and-weight-gain#bhc-content (Website accessed on 29 November 2021)
Bakaloudi. D.R et al. Impact of the first COVID-19 lockdown on body weight: A combined systematic review and a meta-analysis. 2021 at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8056819/ (Website accessed on 29 November 2021)
Zachary, Z et al. Self-quarantine and weight gain related risk factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 14 (2020) 210–216 (2020) athttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32460966/#:~:text=Conclusion%3A%20Risk%20factors%20for%20weight,stress%2C%20and%20reduced%20physical%20activity (Website accessed on 29 November 2021)
CDC. Assessing your weight (2020) at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/index.html (Website accessed on 29 November 2021)
British Heart Foundation. Why your Waist Size Matters (2021) at https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/measuring-your-waist (Website accessed on 29 November 2021)
CDC. Factors Affecting Obesity and Waist Circumference Among US Adults (2019) athttps://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2019/18_0220.htm (Website accessed on 9 December 2021)
CDC. Adult Obesity Causes & Consequences (2021) at https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/causes.html (Website accessed on 9 December 2021)
Hruby, A et al. The Epidemiology of Obesity: A Big Picture. Pharmacoeconomics (2016) athttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4859313/ (Website accessed on 9 December 2021)
CDC. What is a healthy Weight Loss? (2020) at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/losing_weight/index.html (Website accessed on 9 December 2021)
Healthline. Want to Lose Weight? Researchers Say a Registered Dietitian May Be Your Best Bet (2020) athttps://www.healthline.com/health-news/registered-dietitian-may-be-best-for-weight-loss (Website accessed on 9 December 2021)
Tchang, BG et al. Pharmacologic Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults (2015) at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4859313/ (Website accessed on 9 December 2021)
Impact Rx – October 2021

Rochelle Friedman

Aesthetic Appointment | Website

Rochelle is the founder and driving force behind Aesthetic Appointment. With a passion for the aesthetics and pro-ageing industry in South Africa, she has been in the aesthetic publishing industry since 2012, dedicated to creating a valuable platform for insights and knowledge, bridging the gap between patients and doctors - delivering reliable, medical-based information. Rochelle firmly believes in the power of a good skincare regimen, especially when started at home, and is committed to educating consumers about the myriad of treatments, procedures, and products available to them.

Why Losing Weight Is About So Much More Than The Scale

Go to www.ilivelite.co.za for more information, to check your BMI and weight circumference and get access to professionally developed dietary guidelines and other useful tools.

Visit iLiveLite on Facebook.

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