The science of healthy weight and how Mounjaro can help

Friday, December 27, 2024

Achieving a healthier weight is a common goal for so many of us, especially as it’s easier than ever to access higher-calorie food, snacks and drinks at any time of the day or night, and more of us are working remotely, meaning we move our bodies less.

In this article, we will discuss the science behind weight management and explore the role of metabolism, genetics, and diet in achieving a healthier weight.

We will also discuss Mounjaro, a new player in the UK's weight loss market, and examine its potential role in your weight loss journey. Join us as we debunk common weight loss myths and misconceptions and provide insights into setting realistic goals and dealing with weight loss plateaus.

Why is it important to have a healthy weight?

Getting to a healthy weight is important for your overall health. Keeping a healthy weight can lower the chances of serious illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, and it can affect us being more active and having more energy.

A healthy weight, a good diet and physical activity also help improve mental well-being and confidence.

The big benefits of maintaining a healthier weight:

Reduces the risk of serious health conditions, both now and later in life
Improves quality of sleep and reduces fatigue (tiredness)
Boosts mood and mental clarity

A healthier weight also helps control how the body uses energy and keeps hormones balanced, which is important for many body functions like sugar control or our sleep-wake cycles.

Getting to a healthier weight isn't just about looking good. It's about being healthy, feeling energetic, and making sure you stay well in the long run. Making small, regular changes to your lifestyle is the way to get there.

How does metabolism affect my weight?

Your metabolism is very important for managing weight. It’s how your body turns food into energy. If you have a faster metabolism, you use calories in a more energy-efficient way and reduce the amount of fat that gets stored by your body. Metabolism also affects your appetite, people with a faster metabolism don’t tend to eat as much as someone with a slower one.

Genetics also play a role in our weight. Some people are born with a higher chance of gaining weight. This might be true if other people in your family tend to put on weight easily, especially either of your parents. This does not mean losing weight is impossible, but you might need to try different methods and you might have to work harder than others to keep weight off.

Understanding even a bit about your metabolism and genetics can help you personalise your weight loss journey, making it more successful. For example, some people might need to exercise more, while others might focus on changing their diet. Everyone's journey is different.

Things like age and gender also affect how our bodies store and use fat. Men and women may lose weight in different ways because of differences in hormones.

By learning about your own body, we can make a weight management plan together that fits you best. This will help you succeed in the short term and maintain a healthier weight in the long run.

What’s the best diet for weight loss?

Ultimately, a balanced diet is most important for losing weight. A balanced diet helps your body get all the nutrients it needs while limiting how many calories you eat. The main idea is to eat a range of different types of food in the right amounts for your body. We start with the basics, that’s proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Proteins help keep your muscles strong, fats give you energy, and carbohydrates provide energy for everyday activities.

Balancing these nutrients helps your body work well day to day while losing weight healthily in the long term.

How to create a balanced diet, or weight loss plan:

Limit processed foods and sugars.
Incorporate lean proteins and whole grains.
Prioritise fresh fruits and vegetables.
Control portion sizes to avoid overeating.

It’s so important to find the right diet that works for you. Every person's nutritional needs are different, and what works for your friend, your family member or that instagram coach will not necessarily work for you.

Consulting with a dietitian can help you make a plan that works best for you and will increase the chance of long-term success.

What’s the best exercise for losing weight?

Honestly, the exercise or activities you enjoy the most will always be the best for losing weight. It helps you burn calories, speeds up your metabolism, and makes your muscles stronger.

Exercise supports not only weight loss but also overall health. It boosts cardiovascular (heart) health, enhances mood, and reduces stress.

If you're new to exercising, begin with short and easy workouts. Slowly make your workouts longer and harder, this helps prevent injuries and creates lasting habits.

Doing different kinds of exercises, like running and lifting weights, will give you the best results as each type has its own benefits and will work together to help improve your overall fitness.

With exercise, it's important to be consistent, so choose activities you like to make it easier to keep going.

What is Mounjaro for weight loss?

Mounjaro, also called tirzepatide, is a new medicine for managing weight. It has become very popular because of its good results in clinical tests. Mounjaro is having a huge impact on the weight loss market in the UK, with around 1.4 million people using it by the end of 2024.

Mounjaro affects our appetite and helps our bodies control our blood sugar better. It makes people feel full, which leads to eating fewer calories. People who use Mounjaro find it’s easier to stick to healthier diets and, especially as their weight drops, find it easier to be more active as well.

Mounjaro's clinical trials have shown that people who use it can lose up to 22% of their starting weight. Many participants also reported better physical and mental health, which makes it easier to stick to a healthy lifestyle and continue to enjoy weight loss. The benefits that come with that include clothes fitting better and more energy to enjoy life.

Like all medications, Mounjaro does have some risks. Side effects can be different for each person, so it's important to talk with your healthcare provider. Knowing about these risks and speaking in more detail to a professional will help you make the right choice about including Mounjaro in your diet plan.

It's important to remember that medicines should support, not replace, healthy lifestyle changes.

Lasting weight loss depends on a mix of healthy eating, exercise, and, when necessary, medical help like Mounjaro.

How to create healthy habits for weight loss

Getting to a healthier weight is more than just changing your body. How you feel and what drives you, like motivation, are important in this process. Keeping up your motivation can be hard, especially when you hit bumps in the road.

Creating sustainable habits is usually the secret to lasting success. Making small, gradual changes to our daily routines is the best and most reliable way to be healthier in the short term but also healthier in later life.

Knowing what makes you feel emotional and what stops you from changing is really important. Being aware and honest about your own mindset, bad habits and triggers will help you deal with emotional eating, which can set you back.

Support systems, such as friends, family, and coworkers, are also very important. Talking about your goals and experiences with them can help you stay motivated.

Common weight loss myths

Losing weight is absolutely not as easy as many people think, and there are many misunderstandings and preconceptions. These false ideas can make it harder to get to a healthy weight, so it's important to know what is true and what isn’t to get good results.

A common myth is that losing weight quickly means the weight will stay off. Quick fixes don't usually work long-term and can be bad for your health. Instead, making small changes with a balanced diet leads to better and lasting results.

Carbohydrates also often get a bad name. Not all carbs are unhealthy, in fact, some are important for energy and good health. Try to choose whole grains and unprocessed foods though, instead of refined sugars, which will definitely help manage weight.

People often think of exercise just as a way to burn calories. But exercise has more benefits than just losing weight, it often makes you feel better and improves your overall health.

How to manage the weight loss plateau

Setting realistic goals is important for losing weight successfully. If your goals are too hard to reach, you will end up feeling frustrated and give up. Instead, celebrate every small win. This will help keep you motivated and make sure you keep moving forward.

Losing weight often comes with some plateaus (where your weight doesn’t go up or down for several weeks). During these times, it might feel like you’re doing something wrong or aren’t trying hard enough, but that’s wrong. Weight loss plateaus are normal and won’t usually last long. They just feel like they do when you’re used to weighing yourself so often.

Give your body a little time to adjust, and take a moment to review your diet and exercise plans. Sometimes, these get forgotten about as we get distracted enjoying our new smaller size and the energy that comes with it.

Set achievable goals and stick to them to get past obstacles, like special occasions or weight loss plateaus.

Weight loss support with Oxford Online Pharmacy

Getting to a healthier weight isn't a quick job. It's a long-term promise to make better choices. Sticking to a healthy diet and exercising regularly is important to keep your progress and stay healthy.

Our range of weight loss medicines can help boost your efforts and give you the helping hand you need to get to that healthier weight.

Speak to us for expert advice and support to enjoy the process and think about your overall health instead of just the numbers on the scale.