The latest information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey shows 39.6 percent of Americans are obese. As these numbers continue to climb, they estimate almost half of the world’s adult population will be overweight or obese by 2030. Studies show we have a global epidemic of obesity in all age groups for both developed and developing countries. Researchers define obesity as a condition where fat accumulates in the body to become a risk factor or marker for many chronic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer, as well as adversely impacting overall health.

   Obesity paves the way for many physical and psychological problems including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and nearly every other disease on the planet. Research shows obesity is often a major risk factor for development of disease, significant disability and premature death.

   For some people, the struggle begins in childhood and may be triggered by a C-section birth or frequent antibiotic use. Our guts depend on our environments. In short, our processed diets and sanitized lifestyles may come with a price tag: more chronic disease and obesity.

   Being overweight does not cause poor health. Poor health causes weight loss resistance. Weight loss alone is not the secret solution to health issues. The key to resolving weight issues is to get healthy first. Get healthy to lose weight, rather than losing weight to get healthy.

   Goals are critical to weight loss success but many people have unrealistic goals. They think they can lose a huge amount of weight in a very short time. Make realistic, small, short-team goals that push you just a little bit out of your comfort zone. When you reach your goal, make another one.

   Eating should be enjoyable, but when the love of food is used as a coping mechanism during times of stress or sadness, it can turn unhealthy. Observing your thoughts and emotions, instead of mistaking yourself for them, allows you to break the habitual cycle of emotional eating and make rational choices.

   You can’t heal a body you hate. Negative self-talk can be a major problem. You do deserve love, success, happiness and health. Without self-love, even if you had the body you always wanted, it would never be enough.

   Are you starving yourself in an attempt to lose weight? This does not work and in fact may cause you to store even more fat. Stop punishing yourself with starvation diets and fat diets. You may have to shift your perspective on food. You can heal your body with the therapy of delicious, nourishing food as medicine.

   So-called quick fixes don’t actually work. The minute you stop these unsustainable programs, you gain all your weight back and then some. Bodies simply don’t respond to this kind of drastic action. There are no quick fixes or magic pills to buy online. The only solution is to make positive changes to your health and find strategies that work for you, then stick with them over time.

   Losing weight is not equivalent to getting healthy. Cancer and arsenic will make you lose weight, but you won’t be healthier. Weight gain is a symptom, not a cause. Sustainable weight loss will be a natural byproduct of regaining health.

   If you are doing all the things you think are necessary to get healthy and lose weight, chances are good the real problem is something else you are not addressing, such as underlying hormonal imbalance, adrenal fatigue, gut conditions, thyroid dysfunctions or toxicity issues. All of these health problems can prevent the most dedicated person from losing weight.

   There is no successful one-size-fits-all diet plan. There are many things to consider when trying to determine what foods you should and should not be eating: food sensitivities and intolerances, gut health needs, activity levels, toxin exposures, stage of life, GI surgeries and many other things.

   The microbiome that resides in your gastrointestinal tract is the control center for your body. Seventy percent of your immune system resides in your gut and the microbiome is a large component of that. Most people may not realize their inflammation is coming from the gut because their symptoms show up elsewhere, like in their weight gain, fatigue, brain fog or hormonal imbalances. Weight gain is just one symptom of immune dysfunction and inflammation. Inflammation makes your body cling to food. Some good anti-inflammatory foods include wild-caught fish, freshly ground flaxseed and walnuts.

   Stress is a huge contributor to immune dysfunction and resistant weight loss. Living on the go is having a tremendous impact on our immune system.

   Exercise is one of the best medicines out there, especially for weight regulation. It helps in many ways, but too much during a stressful time can promote hormonal imbalances that cause the body to retain or put on weight.

   Toxins are rarely discussed in conventional medicine but it is an environmental impact that must be considered when trying to lose weight. Toxins can be much more potent when mixed together and our bodies are exposed to hundreds of toxins on a daily basis. The best way to avoid toxins include eating clean food, drinking clean water and breathing clean air.

   Sleep is another vital part of maintaining a healthy weight. Aim for eight to nine hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep every night.

   Focus on whole, real, unprocessed foods. Most of your plate should ideally be plant-based foods including non-starchy vegetables, low-sugar fruits like berries and avocado, legumes, nuts and seeds. The rest should be wild-caught seafood, grass-fed beef or another high-quality animal protein.

   We need to eliminate sugar and other food sensitivities. Researchers note that we consume up to 152 pounds of sugar each year.

   Set yourself up for success by prepping ingredients, planning what you take to work for lunch and stocking up on grocery essentials. Those who do this are most likely to succeed at losing weight and keeping it off.

   Four success strategies to include are: make eating a priority; plan what you are going to eat; identify your food triggers and avoid them; and avoid all spontaneous compulsive eating. Take control of the food, don’t let it control you.