Do you have any general health questions you'd like to ask the professionals at Burnett Medical Center? Feel free to ask your question using the form below. We'll be answering your questions on our Facebook page every Thursday in the month of January.
IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 911.
This form is meant for non-urgent health care questions.
Low Carb diets are NOT required to lose weight. Weight loss will not happen unless you burn up more calories than you consume. According to research, low carbohydrate diets can be very effective for weight loss in the short term because reducing carbs tends to reduce your appetite which can cause weight loss without the need to count calories. For some people, a low carb diet can allow them to eat until they feel full and satisfied, and still lose weight. However, most longer term studies do not show significant benefits from low carbohydrate diets. In the short term, low carb diets are definitely easier to stay on. However, they don’t really teach you how to eat so the weight comes right back as you haven’t really learned any new healthy behaviors. Much of the weight loss is simply because you eat less (e.g. when you order the same hamburger but don’t eat the bun). - Dr. Vitale
Counting calories (particularly when combined with a fitness app) can help people see where they can make changes and gets them to realize what a healthy diet should be. Counting calories should also be combined with an increase in exercise. While most experts are now recommending 150 minutes of exercise a week for everyone, they are now recommending 300 minutes of exercise a week when you are trying to lose weight (e.g. 1 hour 5 days/week). Best of Luck!
