Obesity's Impact on You

Is it wearing on you?
How many times have you heard eat less and exercise more?  If you've been dealing with weight issues and have heard that dreaded word "obesity" for some time, it has affected almost every part of you. You likely don't feel overweight unless you're looking in a mirror or at a photo. Yet, you may have faced bias in your personal or professional life. You may be suffering from depression or another brain health condition brought on or aggravated by your experiences with obesity. You may have spent thousands of dollars on diets, gyms, and other weight loss programs. You may not have support from your loved ones for your efforts to manage your weight. You have lost energy and hills have become mountains. These are not small impacts on you as an individual or your life. 

What causes weight gain or inhibits the ability to lose weight?
What you may not have heard before is that you may have difficulty with your weight due to factors outside of your control. Among those factors are:
• Genetics
• Medication side effects (corticosteroids, antidepressants, seizure meds, etc.)
• Stress
• Thyroid issues
• Hormone changes and imbalances (menopause, eating trigger hormones, etc.)
• Living conditions (food deserts, can you exercise outdoors, etc.)
• Poor sleep
• Food addiction
• Early life conditioning
​
If you do live with extra weight, what does that mean to you?
Unless you have diabetes, you may never have had your healthcare provider talk to you about your weight. How do you know if you are at a healthy weight? No matter how you've become overweight, it means that you are at risk for more health problems including 30 cancers linked to obesity. If you have health issues, being overweight can worsen almost any health condition. 

It Takes a Team

Obesity is a chronic disease. There is general agreement about that, including from the American Medical Association (AMA). You can believe it too. It means you likely need more than willpower to address this issue. You need a team:
  • ​Your Doctor and a Health Assessment
  • ​A Plan for Managing Your Weight
  • Emotional and Behavioral Support
  • Family and Friends
  • Your Own Effort

​When you see the health care provider or your health plan, make sure you ask:
  • What tests they are planning to give you to diagnose hormonal and disease-related issues.
  • How your family history might affect your weight
  • What resources are available to support your weight loss efforts such as mental or behavioral support, gym membership discount, dietary counselors, medications, or surgery.

Empower Others With Your Journey

Have you battled unsuccessfully with your weight? Have you found success in battling weight gain? cHope is advocating for all of us dealing with obesity and overweight issues. You can help by sharing your story and potentially empowering others by letting them know you've been through this too.  Please tell us about it. We'll follow up with you if we have an opportunity to share your story. Click this link to go to our partner organization, My Patient Rights, and submit your story there.
cHope is an alliance of the
California Chronic Care Coalition
1001 K Street, 6th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
​The California Chronic Care Coalition (CCCC) is a unique alliance of more than 30 leading consumer health organizations and provider groups that promote the collaborative work of policy makers, industry leaders, providers, and consumers to improve the health of Californians with chronic conditions. We envision a system of care that is accessible, affordable, and of a high-quality that emphasizes prevention, coordinated care, and the patient’s wellness and longevity.
The information found here including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and all other material contained on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment recommendations. Talk to your doctor or a qualified healthcare provider about any health or medical questions you may have, and to determine the correct course of action for your individual needs.