Losing the Pandemic Pounds
6/16/2021
Noel Barnes, DNP, ARNP, FNP-C, PCCN - Pecos Valley Physician Group
As the days get longer and more of our community is opening up, it’s a great time to get back on track with healthy habits and shed those extra pounds many of us have gained during the pandemic. As a family nurse practitioner, I’ve seen many patients who have gained weight in the last year, and while that is completely understandable, I want to remind everyone why it is important to reverse those weight gains for long-term health.
A recent study by the University of California, San Francisco confirmed what many of our scales and wardrobes have already shown us – lower activity levels and increased snacking and overeating have added up, and not for the better. The study found significant increases in weight of roughly a pound and a half gained per month following the shelter in place orders of last spring.
Even before the pandemic, CDC data from 2017-2018 showed that 30-35% of the adults in New Mexico were considered to be obese. Overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher; obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or higher.
Summer is a great time to get more exercise by participating in outdoor activities, and to enjoy light and healthy foods such as fresh fruits, cool salads or grilled vegetables. Of course, each person’s situation must be reviewed to establish a healthy plan to lose weight.
According to the National Institutes of Health, strategies for weight loss and weight maintenance include dietary changes, physical activity, behavior therapy, pharmacotherapy and surgery. Your primary care physician can help you determine what course of action can support your health objectives.
Our providers at Pecos Valley Physician Group have put a number of precautions in place to ensure a safe environment for your appointment. These include rearranging waiting rooms for safe social distancing, masking of all patients and providers, checking the temperature of all clinic visitors, screening clinic staff daily, and enhanced cleaning of commonly touched surfaces.
If you need help finding a primary care physician, visit www.PecosValleyDocs.com to request an appointment with one of our qualified family medicine, internal medicine or gynecologic providers.
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