For Good Health, Eat Healthy

8/1/2019

By Melissa Gomez, M.D., MountainView Regional Medical Center

It’s a well-known fact that our nation has a critical weight problem. More than one-third of U.S. adults – nearly 38 percent – are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and the percentage continues to climb. Overweight and obesity are linked to several chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. In New Mexico alone, the percentage of overweight or obese adults tops 64 percent.

Whether you’re simply trying to lose weight, control your risk for diabetes or another obesity-related disease, or manage symptoms of an already diagnosed disease, eating the right foods is a smart part of your overall health plan.

MountainView Wellness Clinic has resources to help you make the right choices to maintain a healthy diet, a healthy weight, and good quality of life. Proper nutrition can help prevent or manage high blood pressure, high cholesterol, depression, diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, gallbladder disease, bone and joint disorders, certain types of cancer, and many other conditions.

Obesity and diabetes link

Numerous studies have documented the link between obesity and diabetes. If you already have diabetes, you know the importance of controlling your blood sugar – what you eat, when you eat and how much you eat can make a pivotal difference in a diabetic’s quality of life and activity level. Keeping your blood glucose levels within the desired range can help prevent the development of other health problems that are common among diabetics: heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure, for example.

A good diet is essential to a comprehensive, preventive health plan. Even a weight loss of just 10 to 20 pounds can make a major impact. A recent National Institutes of Health study found that lowering your body weight by 7 percent — an average of 15 pounds — through a low-fat diet and exercising for 150 minutes a week (30 minutes daily, five days a week) can decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by as much as 58 percent.

Nutritional Counseling

People who are on a medically-supervised diet for weight loss or health reasons usually see a specially trained health care professional for individual counseling and weight management, in conjunction with your Primary Care Physician’s plan for your care. An obesity specialist can also help design a program to aid in weight loss for patients preparing for bariatric surgery, heart surgery, or orthopedic surgery (such as knee or hip replacement). If you are recovering from surgery, or have high cholesterol or hypertension, your doctor may recommend that you consult with an obesity specialist to design a heart-healthy diet that will support goals for your recovery and long-term health.

An obesity specialist can provide oversight and support for a variety of needs, including:

• Medical nutrition therapy
• Individual nutrition counseling
• Weight loss/bariatric nutritional counseling
• Diabetes management for pre-diabetes, type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes
• Chronic kidney disease management
• Digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or diverticular disease

If you’re beginning a weight loss program for preventive health reasons, or as part of a chronic disease management plan, talk with your doctor about the resources available to support your long-term goals.

At MountainView Wellness Clinic, we can provide nutritional and lifestyle services including diet and exercise counseling to aid with preparation for bariatric surgery, diabetes management, hypertension management, hyperlipidemia treatment, treatment of fatty liver disease and GERD.

Learn more about the MountainView Wellness Clinic at www.mountainviewweightloss.com. Or, call (575-521-8860) for an appointment.

About the Author: Melissa Gomez, M.D. is a Diplomat of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Gomez is a native born Las Crucen and currently employed with the MountainView Medical Group.

Remember that this information is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor, but rather to increase awareness and help equip patients with information and facilitate conversations with your physician that will benefit your health.

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