A short YouTube monologue by Dr. Rick Tague describing the health and personal-life improvements that can follow substantial weight loss. He lists medical benefits (improvements in diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, sleep apnea, joint pain) and psychosocial gains (self-esteem, social life, relationships, workplace opportunities, easier travel and activity).
Chapters
Most patients who come to me, unfortunately have had significant unwanted weight gain. And when that's 20 to 40 pounds or more, oftentimes there are health conditions due to that weight gain that can be things like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joints that are painful and wearing out, sleep apnea, and a variety of other things that are related to their weight. And in addition to that, problems with self esteem, self confidence, and unfortunately having less than ideal social lives, less than ideal marriages, and not being confident in the workplace. Once patients come and start enjoying the benefits of weight loss, we've seen many come off of the CPAP sleep apnea treatments, they've come off diabetes medications and actually normalized their blood sugars and diabetes deaths. Blood pressure can reduce rather quickly, and many patients are able to reduce or eliminate some of their blood pressure medications. We see cholesterol levels significantly elevated when patients begin our program, and just within a matter of weeks, they can be reduced very significantly. Joint pain oftentimes resolves with just 10 to 20 pounds of weight loss. That results in people being more active beginning activities like hiking, bike riding, jogging, even snow skiing. We also see social lives blossoming. When people get some weight off and they go buy some new clothes, that increases their self confidence, self esteem. That can transform marriages, dating lives. And we've had many patients tell us that they've gotten job promotions once their weight is down. They've been asked to give presentations to co workers when they were never asked to give those presentations prior to their weight loss. Patients report airplane travel being easier, just playing with children or grandchildren on the floor far easier. Without the 40 or 50 pounds of unwanted weight. Weight loss can truly be transforming not only just in health reasons, but also in the personal quality of life.
