Weight loss tips & tricks: 'Eat less, move more' is a myth, says physician

• comments
• 
• 

Here's one doctor who is changing our views on obesity: Dr. Spencer Nadolsky, D.O., a family-practice physician and obesity specialist.

"When a patient is overweight or obese, every doctor's knee jerk response is to mention 'diet and exercise,'" Nadolsky told the Huffington Post. However, Nadolsky believes that the "eat less and move more" dietary rule should be shelved.

"Those with obesity aren’t inherently lazy," Nadolsky told Men's Health. "Losing weight and keeping it off are actually really tough. Only a small percentage is able to do it."

Nadolsky believes that if all people really did eat less and moved around a lot more, obesity would not be a problem. Instead, he believes that obesity is more than just what people consume on a daily basis. He said that genes and childhood background should be taken into consideration as well. Combined, these two factors can then determine if a patient is predisposed to be at risk for obesity.

"I’ve had patients swear they’re only eating 1,200 calories," Nadolksy explained to Men's Health, even though he said they were definitely consuming more than that amount. "You put them on an appetite suppressant and all of a sudden they have an easier time adhering to the diet. These aren’t anti-lazy pills. They allow them to not feel miserable when eating less."

But appetite suppressants are not the only answer. Exercise is still important for a healthy body, and Nadolsky warns against fat-shaming.

"They aren’t lacking willpower. We have to realize that not everyone is the same, and telling someone just to ‘eat less and move more’ is awful advice." Nadolsky said.

The Huffington Post also reports that according to Nadolsky, "The average physician is taught next to nothing about obesity treatment in medical school and residency."

It is important for physicians to have enough time to discuss symptoms and possible treatment. However, recent studies showed that on average, American physicians only spend about eight minutes with a patient.

Nadolsky reports, however, that there is good news for obesity patients, "There is a new—and quickly growing—specialty in medicine focusing on obesity, the ABOM (American Board of Obesity Medicine). These physicians are more than equipped to treat obesity. But it needs to be a multidisciplinary approach."

The ABOM recently reported that a record number of 542 physicians applied to take the 2015 American Board of Obesity Medicine certification exam.

ABOM Board Chair Robert Kushner, MD said, "We are greatly encouraged by the growing interest from doctors who are looking to become certified as obesity medicine specialists. This is a clear sign that there is a commitment to treat obesity from the medical community."