Understanding Obesity

By: Scottsdale Weight Loss Center

Published: December 1, 2020

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For many years, obesity was considered a problem of willpower. Now, the American Medical Association classifies it as a disease. Obesity has spread across the U.S., leaving two-thirds of adults having overweight and at risk of developing diseases.

By its simplest definition, obesity means we have too much body fat, but the reason we gain weight varies. Medical obesity specialist Dr. Ziltzer says, “It’s not a matter of taking in too many calories or not burning enough.” There are so many different factors at play that it’s hard to lose weight and get obesity under control.

How Do We Gain Weight?

To understand how we gain weight, it helps to first understand how we take in and process energy.

We all use calories from food as fuel for everything we do. Whether you’re going on a bike ride, chasing after your kids, or cleaning the dishes after dinner, you need energy from food to do it. When we don’t use all the calories we eat, our bodies convert them into fat. This provided a backup energy source when food is scarce. But these days we don’t have trouble finding food.

Convenient, unhealthy foods are all around us, and as a result, we tend to eat more calories than we need. We’re also surrounded by cars, computers, TVs, elevators, and other things that encourage us to be inactive. So we’re less likely to burn the calories we take in.

How Does Obesity Affect Us?

Obesity can make every physical task more difficult, but it can also take an emotional toll. Those with obesity are often discriminated against. Not fitting in an airplane or movie theater seat can keep many people with obesity from doing things they would otherwise enjoy.

Health is where obesity makes the clearest impact. Excess weight affects every part of your body. This means a higher risk for diseases like:

Arthritis
Cancer
Gallbladder disease
Heart disease
Hyperlipidemia
Hypertension
Sleep apnea
Type 2 diabetes

Overcoming Obesity

Obesity is a chronic condition. Self-help weight-loss diets are short-term, and the weight comes back when it ends. To keep weight off, we need:

Long-term dietary changes
Long-term lifestyle changes
A healthier relationship with food
More daily physical activity

It’s challenging to make long-term changes without help and support, especially for those with severe obesity. With a medical weight loss program, weight loss experts can customize the best and safest approach for you.

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Nick's Story

"I wish I would have come here first. We spend all our time reacting to the next great weight loss tip or program. It might work for a while, but does not last and we end up yo-yoing from one fad to the next – as we gain more weight." Read More

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Lost 44.5 lbs

"I had no trouble adhering to the meals and they really helped catapult my progress! The classes were so beneficial to me because they helped change my thinking about how I viewed health, nutrition, and fitness.

I will always have my relationship with Scottsdale Weight Loss Center. They truly helped me change my life forever." Read More

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Lost 60 lbs

"Dr. Ziltzer and everyone who I have come in contact with at the Scottsdale Weight Loss office have been so encouraging and I look forward to seeing them each week. It is now a year and 2 months later since I started. I am down 60 lbs., which is the average amount a 9-year-old weighs, it is crazy to think I lost a whole person! I feel amazing, I hit my goal weight in November 2021 just before Thanksgiving. Nothing on my body hurts anymore..." Read More

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Lost 66 lbs

"The best thing I did was call the Scottsdale Weight Loss Center. I have a lot more energy, I'm not hungry, and it feels great.

You can take it from me that this is a program that produces results. The staff is always positive, supportive, and never judgmental.

Your visits always result in positive reinforcement, no matter if you had a good week or a bad week." Read More

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Lost 101 lbs

"Here I am at the lowest I have been since high school weighing in at 155lbs. I have lost 101 lbs, BMI of 39 when I started, to 21.6, and of course at body fat % of 47.1 to 26.5%. I told myself by my 30th birthday I wanted to be confident in the way I look and I owe it all to SWLC. The entire staff is so welcoming and they are rooting for you just as much as you are rooting for yourself...." Read More

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   Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Dr Robert Ziltzer! He helped me reach my ideal weight and more importantly maintain it for over 2 years. He has also helped me keep my blood pressure exactly where my internist wanted it. Dr Ziltzer is not only exceptional in weight management but also a truly gifted internet’s. His knowledge, kindness, and dedication are remarkable. I am deeply grateful for his care and recommend him whole heartedly!
     
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   Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I'd lost 20 pounds on my own and struggled to keep it off.  I decided GLP-1 meds were the next step in losing more and keeping it off.  I wanted a medical doctor supervised program and chose SWLC. I am so very glad I did!  The team in Glendale is so supportive and kind; and when I feel discouraged, they pick me up with positive energy and input.  They really do a great job with encouragement all the time. 6 weeks in I've lost 17 pounds, and am approaching weight loss with a very new perspective.  Also knowing that when I reach my target goal, they'll be there through maintenance and beyond is encouraging as well.  Good to not feel alone on this journey.
     
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