5 Factors That Make Weight Loss (Without Help) Nearly Impossible

Want to lose weight? All you have to do is eat fewer calories and exercise more, and the pounds just melt away. Right? Not so much. 

Weight loss — and weight gain, for that matter — happens in different ways, and there are more factors in play than your diet and activity level. That’s why trying to lose weight on your own can be so frustrating — and why it’s crucial to seek a medical solution instead.

Medical weight loss doesn’t necessarily mean using weight loss medications, although that’s an option. Sometimes, it means getting treatment for underlying health or lifestyle issues that could get in your way.

The team at Premier Physicians Weight Loss & Wellness has experience helping people lose excess pounds and keep them off, with customized weight loss plans focused on real, long-term results.

In this post, we review five common weight loss stumbling blocks you can overcome with medical intervention.

1. Hormone imbalances

Your hormones play key roles in metabolism and fat storage, including common hormones like insulin, cortisol, and thyroid hormones.

Any changes in the levels of these (and similar) hormones can affect your metabolism, which means you struggle to lose weight no matter how much you diet and exercise. 

Hormone levels fluctuate for lots of reasons — getting older is perhaps the most common. Health issues, like thyroid disease or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), can also alter hormone levels and stymie weight loss efforts.

Without medical support, like hormone replacement therapy, these imbalances make it difficult to lose weight and keep it off.

2. Underlying health conditions

PCOS and thyroid disorders are just two of many health issues that can interfere with weight loss. Fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and insulin resistance can all make weight loss harder unless you have a team of skilled medical professionals on your side.

The impact of health conditions on weight isn’t always straightforward. For instance, poor sleep and chronic stress impact millions of Americans, and both can interfere with weight.

These health conditions need medical management to achieve and maintain meaningful weight loss. And delaying treatment can lead to other complications.

3. Medications that cause weight gain

Medications play a critical role in managing many chronic health conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, and depression. While medications can have undeniably positive effects on people living with chronic disease, some can also make it harder to manage weight.

If you use medicine to manage a chronic health condition, you might have difficulty losing extra pounds. No matter what, don’t stop taking your medications. Instead, discuss your medications with our team, so we can help adjust your medication plan safely.

4. Yo-yo dieting or unrealistic goals

Thanks to the internet, there’s virtually no end to trendy diet plans offering easy weight loss. However, many of these diets rely on unhealthy strategies, such as calorie restriction or elimination of key macronutrients. 

These diets can set you up for nutritional deficiencies and may promote food cravings and eating disorders over time. What’s more, even if you do lose weight following one of these plans, you’re almost sure to gain those pounds back — and sometimes additional pounds too.

Sustainable, healthy weight loss requires a personalized approach based on medical research and scientifically proven approaches — a tailored plan focused on your unique challenges and healthy weight loss goals.

5. Lack of accountability and support

Losing weight isn’t just about willpower. Without proper support, structure, and encouragement from professionals skilled in weight management, even the most disciplined person can wind up frustrated by their lack of results.

Our weight management plans feature ongoing support from our team, helping you stay focused and on track. Continued medical support also enables us to adjust your plan over time as your needs and goals change for optimal, long-term results.

To learn how we can help, request an appointment online or over the phone today with the team at Premier Physicians Weight Loss & Wellness in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada.