Healthy Living Tips from
The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | March 2021
HEALTHY TIP : Obesity Can Have Many Causes
It is generally understood that people with obesity have higher risks for chronic diseases including diabetes and heart disease . There is a wide push by health educators , physicians , and nutrition experts to help people lose weight through diet and exercise . But according to Deborah Specialty Physicians Endocrinologist , Navinder Jassil , MD , while those weight loss tools are important , obesity is a much more complex problem than is often recognized .
“ I have seen many patients over the years who are simply dismissed by health care professionals as lazy and unmotivated ,” she says . “ The perception has been that people with obesity eat too much and do too little .”
This , Dr . Jassil points out can have serious repercussions .
“ If this is the only way we can view obese patients , then they can spiral into an acceptance of defeat and low self-esteem , and not work on a solution .”
Hormones are Key
Dr . Jassil said that hormones often play a key role in weight gain . “ There are brain signals that trigger many of our habits . Hormones like leptin and insulin , and our sex and growth hormones that can influence our appetites , and our metabolism which controls the rate at which we burn calories , as well as how our body fat is distributed in our bodies .”
“ Obesity can occur when over time our bodies take in more calories than we burn . However , it can also be triggered by hormones being out of balance .”
Dr . Jassil notes that obese people ( especially those with a body mass index over 30 ) should definitely talk to an endocrinologist when trying to regain their health .
“ There are a lot of things in our toolbox that can help . We certainly want to rule out any hormonal imbalances that can be corrected with proper medication . These approaches often support additional efforts with healthy eating and physical activity , and make them more effective in producing results . As well there are many treatment options like bariatric surgery that can help someone get back on track with their weight goals .”
“ The most important thing is to recognize that excessive weight gain can have many causes , and a proper medical evaluation can be the first step in helping pinpoint these .”
For more information , visit www . DeborahSpecialists . com .
15