Helping people to lose weight is one of the most challenging tasks that I have in my practice. It's not because acupuncture and herbs are ineffective and can't help people lose weight, but because issues surrounding eating and exercise are complex, fundamental behaviors that need to be changed before true, healthy weight loss can happen.
A study of nearly 7,000 older and middle aged adults called the "Multi-Ethnic Study of Athlerosclerosis," or MESA, found that more than two-thirds of white, African-American and Hispanic participants were overweight, and one-third to one-half of participants were obese.
Investigators also found that overweight and obese participants had high blood pressure and high cholesterol despite medical interventions such a prescription medications.
Why is this? Because being overweight affects the health of your internal organs, like it or not. It's not about looking good or changing your body type so that you look like a picture in a magazine. It's about being active and health and eating a balanced diet.
Unfortunately, Americans don't seem to learn this balanced lifestyle. Blame parents, blame advertising, blame anyone you feel like, but the bottom line is this:
You are responsible for what you put into your mouth. You are responsible for the amount of exercise that you get. You a responsible for the way that you treat your body, and your body will show the results.
When a patient comes to me and wants to lose weight, I tell them what acupuncture can do. Acupuncture and herbal medicine both can improve your digestion. Acupuncture can help reduce stress, which reduces the production of cortisol and abdominal weight gain.
I am always very clear that patients themselves are responsible for making lifestyle changes. I ask patients to commit to a six-week program, because that's how long it takes to reset the body's metabolism.
People are always enthusiastic, and things go well for the first few weeks. Then, typically, in the fourth or fifth week there is some sort of personal crisis and patients turn to food to cope. At this point, I refer them to a therapist, and then I typically never see them again.
If you think this doesn't sound optimistic, you don't have a lot of faith in people's ability to overcome their own personal roadblocks. Just because weight loss can be difficult doesn't mean that it can't be done. It takes focus and commitment, and it's incredibly rewarding.
Note: Chinese-Americans, by contrast, were only 33 percent overweight and five percent obese.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Hello,
I just stumbled across your blog while searching for "acupuncture and weight loss". I've never tried acupuncture but have been referred to it by many people. Of course, like many women, I deal with weight issues triggered by stress, emotional eating, etc. I know that acupuncture itself won't miraculously help me lose weight, but I am looking to neutralize my hormone levels around the time menstruation. Sorry to be so personal, but I'm just looking for an expert to give me some initial advice. Do you think I should try it to ease my intense/stressful lifestyle?
Thanks!
Zee
Acupuncture is fantastic for regulating hormones and maximizing women's health - that's why it's often used to treat fertility issues. Also, it helps you moderate stress so you aren't as affected by the triggers that cause emotional eating. One piece of advice: find a way to give yourself a treat that isn't food, like a cup of herbal tea.
Post a Comment