Weight: just one measure of health

Headlines about celebrity weight-loss, trending hashtags on social media, publications in medical journals, health plans and employers concerned about rising drug costs – it feels like GLP-1 drugs are everywhere.  Though the widespread attention is recent, these drugs are not new.  The first drugs were originally approved in the early 2000s for use by people with diabetes.  Their effectiveness at lowering blood sugar coupled with a low side effect profile and impact on weight loss has led to many developments in the area.  And it is their impact on weight loss that has driven the extensive use. It is no surprise given the prevalence of obesity.  Some experts predict that by 2030 almost half of adults in the U.S. will have obesity and in 29 states the number of adults with obesity will be over 50%.¹ On its own, obesity adds almost $173 billion to the annual cost of health care in the U.S.² And when we zoom in to the impact to individuals – obesity has a significant impact on physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.³

We cannot address obesity without addressing the behaviors that contribute to it.

There is no dispute that weight loss can have a positive impact on health outcomes. These drugs and other medical interventions, like weight loss surgery, can play a significant role in promoting weight loss. However, we cannot address obesity without addressing the behaviors that contribute to it. Without that context, weight becomes just a number on a scale and weight loss may not be sustainable. An effective lifestyle coaching program can play an important role in helping people develop the long-lasting habits that not only help sustain weight loss but impact their whole health.

A successful approach to health must include building literacy around what a healthy lifestyle is and developing lasting behavior change.

A successful approach to health must include building literacy around what a healthy lifestyle is and developing lasting behavior change. Food doesn’t need unhealthy fats, added sugar and sodium to be a feast for our senses and provide the fuel our bodies need to function optimally. Physical activity doesn’t need to be restricted to running shoes or the gym. There are fun, creative ways to make it part of a daily routine – even in 10-minute bursts. We can acknowledge the connection between mind and body and recognize the impact that stress, depression and anxiety have on our physical health and develop long-lasting habits to address them. And we can help people understand how building strong social connections can help guard against the very real impact of loneliness and isolation.   These are all impactful contributors to well-being and lowered disease burden.

Innovations like the GLP-1 drugs can play a role in addressing a serious and growing health problem in this country. However, we need to reassert that reducing weight is only one measure when it comes to assessing health. Just as the number on the scale doesn’t guarantee health on its own, a solution simply focused on weight loss doesn’t adequately address the complexity of what makes a healthy person. To do that, we must put weight back into context in a broader definition of what is healthy and focus on whole person health solutions.

¹ Projected U.S. State-Level Prevalence of Adult Obesity and Severe Obesity

² CDC.gov/about-obesity

³ Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Obesity Prevention Source

 

Services are provided by ActiveHealth Management, Inc. Our programs, care team and care managers do not provide diagnostic or direct treatment services. We assist you in getting the care you need, and our program is not a substitute for the medical treatment and/or instructions provided by your health care providers.