Many people struggle with their body weight. Weight management can cause some people to struggle with depression due to weight gain or develop an eating disorder, while others may gain weight because of a psychological health issue.
Weight loss is a critical issue for many. You may be wondering what options can help you reach a healthy weight. If conventional efforts aren’t working, can you consider therapy? Let’s look at how therapy could help you with weight maintenance and other strategies you can use to promote weight loss.
Can a therapist help you with weight loss?
In the United States, more than 28 million Americans will deal with an eating disorder at some point in their lives. More than a quarter of these individuals will attempt suicide, while over 10,000 people die from eating disorders each year. Some people may struggle with weight issues caused by or trigger psychological health issues, which is why therapy could be a crucial component of their weight loss strategy.
Patients seek therapy for multiple reasons. While some may pursue outpatient counseling, others opt for intensive outpatient therapy for depression and other mental health conditions. Therapists work with people struggling with multiple issues, such as suicidal ideation, addictions, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and eating disorders. Intensive outpatient (IOP) treatment plans involve multiple daily therapy sessions. Patients participate in group and individual therapy. They may also attend family therapy, ensuring the people they’re closest to understand their issues and employ strategies that promote their mental health.
Depression and anxiety are examples of mental health issues that can cause weight gain. These conditions affect a person’s appetite and activity level. Stress can increase appetite levels, prompting weight gain. Consequently, therapy addressing those mental health challenges can help people achieve weight loss by helping them manage their mental health issues. Professional counselors work with patients to help them identify triggers they can avoid to safeguard their mental well-being and help them identify other coping strategies to maintain a healthy mental state.
Physical activity promotes weight loss.
Suppose you’re wondering how to lose weight. Start with a customized weight loss program that includes physical activity. Cardiovascular activity, such as swimming or jogging, increases your metabolism. When you boost your metabolic rate, you burn more calories. Your body burns carbohydrates and fat when you’re doing cardio, promoting long-term weight loss. Cardio offers multiple health benefits, such as lowering your blood sugar and reduce your blood pressure. The impact on blood sugar levels can even reduce a diabetic person’s need for insulin and other medications.
Exercise also reduces your appetite, helping you skip snacks and consume fewer calories. Strength training helps build muscle mass. Building muscle mass also increases your metabolic rate. Like cardio, strength training prompts your body to release hormones that help fight depression. Muscle mass also reduces fatigue and consumes calories, helping you reduce excess weight.
Your diet affects your body weight.
Diet plans can help you cut extra calories, promoting healthy weight loss. Diets focus on weight loss math. Every person burns a certain amount of calories each day. When people reduce their calorie intake, they burn more calories than they consume, they should experience weight loss. There are multiple popular diet plans, including intermittent fasting, the Atkins diet, and Weight Watchers.
Effective diet plans ensure you receive the vitamins and nutrients by encouraging dieters to consume healthy foods, such as products made with whole grains and whole foods, such as veggies and fruits. With a well-balanced diet, you can consume healthy starches and carbs while reducing your sugar intake and managing your glucose levels. Diets can help people struggling with obesity reach their body mass index (BMI) goals, reduce cravings, and enjoy sustainable weight loss.
Your weight may be connected to mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, or stress. Addressing these issues through an IOP program can help you prevent further weight gain and lose weight. You can also use conventional weight loss methods, such as physical activity and diet to promote weight loss.
