According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of obesity in the country among adults is around 40 percent. They estimate that over 93 million adults are considered obese. It’s estimated that around 80 percent of the people try to lose weight on their own, but most fail. Sometimes, it’s not for a lack of trying that some people can’t shed the pounds. There are some underlying conditions that are often overlooked that can keep people from reaching their healthy goal weight.

“It’s often not all your fault if you can’t lose weight,” explains Dr. Michael Russo, a board certified bariatric surgeon at Smart Dimensions Weight Loss, located in the Los Angeles area. “Weight loss is a complicated procedure. There’s a lot that goes into it, and they are not alone. Millions of people try to lose weight only to find that the scale doesn’t budge or it creeps up in the opposite direction.”

The team of experts at Smart Dimensions has helped thousands of people who can’t lose weight on their own get down to their ideal size. In doing so, they have helped people become healthier and improve their quality of life. There are five often-overlooked reasons they find that it’s difficult for people to lose weight, including:

1. Hormones. The hormonal piece to the puzzle can play a big role in weight gain and in difficulty losing it. Fluctuations in hormones can help people pack on the pounds even though they haven’t changed anything in their lifestyle. Increasing physical activity is one way to try and combat the hormonal hold on the weight.
2. Metabolic syndrome. This health condition is associated with a larger waist, as well as a variety of health problems. In fact, a large waist size is one of the signs and symptoms that a person may have metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome can affect hormone secretions, which can lead to weight gain. Some lifestyle changes and/or medications may be able to help address this condition.
3. Brain games. The gut plays an important role because it helps communicate with the brain by sending out “full” signals. Some people may need a brain reboot, because their body is not sending the signal that says they are full. Their satiety hormone is essentially off, which leads them to continuously overeat.
4. Slow metabolism. Your metabolism is the mechanism that converts the calories you consume into energy. It can be influenced by your body size, sex, and age. There are conditions that can lead to a slow metabolism, which will make it easier to pack on the weight and more difficult to lose it.
5. Medications. There are numerous medications that can lead to weight gain. These include ones taken for diabetes, epilepsy, antidepressants, blood pressure reducing, and antipsychotic drugs. Stopping the prescription so that it is easier to lose weight may not be possible.

“One doesn’t choose to be obese. Obesity is complex, and people usually need help shedding the weight for good if they are serious about it,” added Dr. Mir Ali, a bariatric surgeon at Smart Dimensions Weight Loss. “Those who feel they have tried losing weight on their own and can’t do so should have a consultation. Knowing what the problem may be is the first step toward addressing it and gaining control over your health and weight.”

Smart Dimensions Weight Loss has successfully helped thousands of people throughout Los Angeles and Orange County with their weight loss needs. For more information about Smart Dimensions Weight Loss, visit their website at: www.smartdimensions.com.