If losing excess pounds were as simple as deciding to do so, over 70% of adults over age 20 in the United States probably wouldn’t be classified as overweight. Nearly half of Americans attempt weight loss each year, with very few finding lasting success. While those numbers can seem daunting, professional support and behavioral counseling can really increase your odds.
Our specialists at Delta Medical Weight Management Center in Southaven, Mississippi, provide both so that you can shift your habits and maintain a healthy weight for good. Read on to learn more about behaviors as they relate to weight loss and ways in which we can help.
Behaviors that make weight loss difficult
You learn weight-related behaviors in many ways, from modeling from adults and loved ones as you grow up to environmental factors, such as whether you live close to healthy food and lifestyle options. And as behaviors become habitual, it’s often difficult to change them.
Common behaviors that can interfere with weight loss include:
- Drinking alcohol in excess
- Eating too few vegetables or other high-fiber foods
- Eating primarily calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods, such as sugary sweets and fried foods
- Eating primarily refined grain products, like white flour, versus whole grains
- Exercising infrequently or not at all
- Not managing stress effectively
- Skimping on sleep routinely
How to change your behaviors for weight loss success
With enough education, time, and motivation, you might be able to change your weight loss-disruptive behaviors on your own. That said, behavioral counseling can help almost anyone better achieve their weight loss goals. And in many cases, such counseling makes the difference between falling off the wagon and success.
In one study, 88 morbidly obese people received behavioral counseling for 12 months. By the year’s end, they had a mean weight loss of 15% of their body weight, and they were able to maintain that weight loss completely for at least 6 months.
How behavioral counseling for weight loss works
At Delta Medical Weight Management Center, we provide behavioral counseling based on education on how to improve your lifestyle habits. Our team teaches you how to make healthier food choices in appropriate portion sizes and helps you understand what types of exercise are ideal for your body, overall health, and goals.
Throughout your weight loss process, we’ll provide emotional support and encouragement while helping to address any challenges along the way. We won’t have you strive for perfection, but for an overall pattern of healthy, realistic habits that allow for some wiggle room. And as you reach your goal weight range, we’ll help you transition into long-term maintenance habits to keep those pounds off in the future.
To learn more about weight control or to get the support you need, call Delta Medical Weight Management Center today, or email us through our website.