Weight Management Consulting

To lose weight, you must burn more calories through your body’s metabolic (internal) functions and physical activity than you are consuming through the foods and drinks you take in. Although it sounds easy to “eat less, exercise more”, it is more complicated than this. Click here for more details.

It has been long believed that people with a higher BMI ( >30) are unhealthy and need to lose weight. Current research shows that not everyone with a higher BMI is unhealthy. A larger body size and obesity are not the same thing. Read more about what obesity is and whether your weight may be contributing to your health and wellness.

Obesity is the medical term used to define the accumulation of excess boy fat that can have a negative impact on your metabolic (blood sugars, blood pressure), physical (joints, sleep apnea), and mental(depression, self-esteem) aspects of health. Obesity is a chronic and often progressive condition, similar to diabetes, that needs to be managed long-term otherwise, will become out of control. Click here for more details.

If your weight is not contributing to health issues, you may not need to lose weight - for many people, it is about stopping weight gain from happening as the years go on and negatively impacting your health longterm. The first step is to determine what factors are contributing to your weight and your health. As little as 5-10% weight loss can have a positive impact on health outcomes. It is important to remember that health and wellness outcomes will occur with any amount of weight loss. You are not a failure if you haven’t achieved your initial desired amount of weight. Your Best Weight is the weight that you achieve while consuming the least amount of calories from a healthy intake of food and by doing the most physical activity you can tolerate - while truly enjoying your life. Talk to your healthcare provider about how you can discover your best weight.

There is no “one” diet that is best for weight loss. Any way to eat fewer calories than what your body is burning will promoting weight loss. The key is long-term adherence because as soon as you discontinue the diet, your weight will likely be re-gained. You should keep healthy eating guidelines in mind to promote wellness and disease prevention Canada's Food Guide . Don’t forget other medical nutrition guidelines that may have been recommended for other health conditions.

- Watch this video to learn more. Obesity CARE Service (obesity-care.ca) (can be downloaded to your site if logged into the HCP portal) Bust the Bias Archives - Obesity Canada has great collection of small videos of evidence-based information to help dispel some of the myths about obesity

Regular exercise is one of the most important things you can do for your health. Not only is physical activity good for your cardiovascular system, it helps with blood sugar control, bone and joint health as well as improving your energy and mental health and many other health outcomes, Exercise itself, may not be an effective way to lose weight but is important for maintaining weight by burning calories and increasing metabolic rate.

To learn more about the appetite system and how it might be contributing to your weight, watch this video. Obesity CARE Service (obesity-care.ca) Contact us to book an appt with your doctor to discuss your weight.

There are medications that can help you manage your weight. Most medications approved by Health Canada help with appetite dysfunction in the brain. These medications help to control wanting of excess amounts of food or cravings for certain foods. Speak to your healthcare provider to see if medication is right for you to help manage your weight.

Reputable links:

• Public Resources - Obesity Canada
• Home - Unlock Food