Ever since fen-phen was taken off the market for its fatal side effects, Americans have been clamoring for another medication that would make the pounds melt away. In 2021, it seemed as though those prayers had been answered as Wegovy, a medication approved for use in weight management, came on the scene. Wegovy (and its … Read More
Struggling with emotional eating or binge eating can be incredibly stressful and demoralizing. Unfortunately, it’s common for people who suffer from these concerns to feel like the problem is a personal or moral failing. In fact, unhealthy eating patterns are often the result of multiple factors that can be physical, environmental, and psychological. Learning how … Read More
Extra pounds can have a significant negative effect on your lower back. That’s according to a 2010 review published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, which assessed data from 95 high-quality studies. The conclusion? The risk for lower back pain was directly related to increases in body mass index (BMI). Many people who have a … Read More
There is a strong relationship between anxiety and weight gain. Especially during the months surrounding COVID-19, there has been increased attention given to this phenomenon. There are several reasons why anxiety can lead to weight gain, weight gain can lead to anxiety, and then the vicious cycle can go on and on. In our culture, … Read More
One common headline during the COVID-19 pandemic relates to how obesity is a significant risk factor for suffering complications of the illness. Currently, scientists believe that the virus binds to fat cells. Using that logic, the more fat cells a person has, the more likely they are both to contract the disease and to have … Read More
Everyone is always looking for that magic bullet when it comes to weight loss. People usually suspect that it is some combination of foods, a certain exercise regimen, or a particular supplement that will guarantee lasting weight loss. However, decades of research have proven that there is one magic bullet that is more powerful than … Read More
Many participants at Structure House say that they have been researching “weight loss retreats” for years when they arrive at our campus. Whenever I hear this, I am always surprised by what they tell me when I ask them to define weight loss retreat. Some say that they expect to arrive at a live-in weight … Read More
When a new client comes into my office for weight loss counseling, I begin by asking two questions to assess motivation: How is your weight hurting you? How is your weight helping you? Most people can easily respond to the first question. Almost all are puzzled by the second. How could being overweight possibly be … Read More
Take a moment to see if you can name one occasion, gathering, celebration, or holiday that does not involve food in some fundamental way. Really try to think of one. Having trouble? I’m not surprised. We live in a food-centric culture: a society so obsessed with eating that we implicate this behavior in almost every … Read More
I’ll admit it. I talk to myself. You talk to yourself too. In fact, we are all constantly talking to ourselves as thoughts run through our mind all day. We are not even aware of all of the thoughts that arise, and that’s fine. It wouldn’t be adaptive to pay attention to all your thoughts … Read More
