The study, published in JAMA, forecasts especially sharp increases among Black and Latino communities, women, and people in Southern and Midwestern states. Researchers attribute these trends to longstanding systemic inequalities and limited access to effective treatment.

Velazquez, who was not involved with the study, told the Los Angeles Times that while obesity rates in California are expected to increase more slowly than the national average, significant racial and gender disparities are likely to persist.

“These numbers are not surprising, given the systemic inequalities that exist,” she said, pointing to economic instability, car-dependent transportation and chronic stress in Los Angeles and other California cities.

“There are challenges for access to nutritious foods, depending on where you’re at in the city,” she said, as well as “disparities in the access to healthcare” stemming from recent Medi-Cal changes that have left many low-income Californians without health insurance coverage for obesity treatment.

“To take that away is devastating,” Velazquez said.

She told the Los Angeles Times that despite these obstacles, strong public health and nutrition policies, such as those in place in California, can play a meaningful role in preventing obesity.

“There are statewide and local policies that influence food, nutrition and social determinants of health for individuals,” Velazquez said.

Such prevention efforts include strengthening school nutrition standards, promoting walking-friendly transportation, and improving access to healthy food in underserved communities.

Read the complete article from the Los Angeles Times.

When the body consumes fewer calories than it burns, it compensates by releasing more hunger-stimulating hormone and reducing production of the hormone that signals fullness. Metabolism also slows to help the body burn fewer calories. Set-point theory suggests that these physiological changes push the body back to a predetermined baseline weight, known as the set point.

"Even if one were to make all of the healthiest lifestyle changes they could, the set point will continue to try to persist," Velazquez told Everyday Health.

The theory could help explain why many people struggle to maintain weight loss over time.

“Patients feel like it’s something they are doing that is leading them to have the weight [come back], when that is not the case,” Velazquez said.

Several factors, including aging, menopause and environment, can affect the body’s set point. Experiencing trauma or being born to a mother who smoked or was overweight also can result in a higher set-point weight.

Velazquez said that while weight gain over time might elevate the body’s set point, the timeline for this shift remains unclear.

“We don’t fully know from the science how long a person needs to be at that higher weight for it to recalibrate that to be the set point,” she said.

Despite the body’s natural tendency to maintain a baseline weight, experts say individuals might be able to lose about 5% of their body weight by increasing muscle mass, managing stress and keeping a consistent sleep schedule.

If those strategies don’t work, or if an individual needs to lose more than 5% of their body weight, Velazquez recommends speaking with a doctor about other approaches, including GLP-1 medications, bariatric surgery or an endoscopic sleeve procedure.

“These are tools in the toolbox that are very much appropriate for patients to pursue to help them lose the weight and keep it off effectively,” she said.

 Read the complete article from Everyday Health.

Millones de personas sintonizaron el evento de máxima audiencia de la cadena ABC, Un Especial de Oprah: Vergüenza, Culpa y la Revolución de la Pérdida de Peso, en el que Velázquez, otros expertos médicos y Winfrey hablaron de la obesidad como enfermedad crónica y abordaron el impacto de los medicamentos para perder peso sus efectos secundarios y en la vida.

“Es necesario adoptar un enfoque múltiple”, dijo Velázquez a Winfrey. “Creo que muchas veces la gente piensa que puede simplemente coger la medicación y tomarla sin ningún otro tipo de asesoramiento. Pero la clave está en trabajar con un equipo sanitario multidisciplinar.”

Velázquez subrayó que la obesidad es una enfermedad compleja, y que la dieta o el ejercicio por sí solos pueden no ser suficientes para que una persona pierda peso, lo mantenga a largo plazo y prevenga las enfermedades relacionadas con el peso.

En el especial, Winfrey habló de su propia experiencia de sentirse avergonzada por su peso durante 25 años. 

“Es un tema muy personal para mí y para los cientos de millones de personas afectadas en todo el mundo que durante años han luchado contra el peso y la obesidad”, dijo Winfrey, que también reveló que el año pasado empezó a tomar un medicamento recetado para perder peso.

Velázquez explicó que los medicamentos contra la obesidad aprobados por la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de EE.UU. -como la semaglutida (Ozempic)- han demostrado ser seguros, si se toman correctamente y a largo plazo.

“Tenemos buenos ensayos que demuestran que cuando los pacientes dejan la medicación, la enfermedad reaparece”, dijo Velázquez.

Velázquez también fue incluida en la cobertura mediática del especial en The New York Times Español, Oprah Daily y Time.

Lea más en el Blog de Cedars-Sinai: Fármacos Para Perder Peso, lo Que Hay que Saber Ahora

Millions tuned in to the ABC prime-time event, An Oprah Special: Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution, as Velazquez, other medical experts and Winfrey discussed obesity as a chronic disease and addressed the life-changing impact as well as side effects of weight loss medications.

“A multipronged approach is the way it has to be,” Velazquez told Winfrey. “I think a lot of times people think that they can just pick up the medication and take it without any other counseling. The key, however, is that you’re working with a healthcare team that is multidisciplinary.”

Velazquez emphasized that obesity is a complex medical condition, and diet or exercise alone may not be enough for a person to lose weight, keep it off long term and prevent weight-related diseases.

In the special, Winfrey talked about her own experience of feeling weight shamed for 25 years.  

“It is a very personal topic for me and for the hundreds of millions of people impacted around the globe who have for years struggled with weight and obesity,” said Winfrey, who also revealed that she began taking a prescription weight loss medication in the past year.

Velazquez explained that anti-obesity medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—such as semaglutide (Ozempic)—have been shown to be safe, if taken correctly and long term.

“We have good trials showing that when patients stop medication, the disease comes back,” Velazquez said.  

Velazquez also was included in media coverage of the special, including in The New York Times, Oprah Daily, and Time.  

Read more on the Cedars-Sinai Blog: Weight-Loss Drugs, What to Know Now.

Velazquez told ABCNews.com that although many holiday gatherings are centered around food, it’s best not to skip meals in anticipation of eating one bigger meal.

“[This is] priming your body to be very hungry, overly hungry,” Velazquez told ABCNews.com. “Also, you will not give yourself the fuel and energy during the day to sustain yourself.”

Velazquez also told ABCNews.com that it’s important to pay attention to calories that are consumed through beverages.

“Try to minimize empty calories and avoid sugar sweetened beverages such as sodas, juices and high calorie cocktails,” she said.

Velazquez suggested scheduling physical activities that would be fun to do with other people.

“I try to encourage patients to think about who are members of their families or friends who may want to participate in physical activities,” she told ABCNews.com. “This usually leads them to brainstorming about partnerships and keeps them accountable.”

Other ways to stay healthy during the holiday season include self-care activities to help minimize stress, like meditation, breathing exercises, journaling and yoga. Experts also advise that patients aim for a consistent sleep schedule with seven to nine hours of sleep each night and minimal noise and light distractions.

Click here to read the complete article from ABCNews.com.

La obesidad es una enfermedad crónica que provoca una grasa corporal excesiva o anormal. Puede aumentar significativamente el riesgo de que una persona desarrolle problemas de salud graves, como cáncer, diabetes, enfermedades cardíacas y vasculares y accidentes cerebrovasculares.

Velázquez dijo a WebMD que “la obesidad es una enfermedad muy compleja” y que la dieta o el ejercicio por sí solos no son suficientes para que la mayoría de las personas pierdan peso, lo mantengan a largo plazo y prevengan enfermedades relacionadas con el peso. Explicó que se ha demostrado que los nuevos medicamentos contra la obesidad aprobados por la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de EE. UU., como la semaglutida (Ozempic), son seguros si se toman a largo plazo para perder y mantener el peso. Pero la cobertura del seguro es “impredecible”.

“Lo mejor es consultar con sus proveedores de atención médica para averiguar qué [medicamento contra la obesidad] es mejor para usted, en términos de costos”, dijo Velázquez.

Agregó que la mayoría de las aseguradoras cubrirán la cirugía bariátrica si una persona cumple con los criterios clínicos.

Incluso con estas opciones, el ejercicio sigue siendo clave. Velázquez dijo que el entrenamiento de fuerza, que tiene muchos beneficios para la salud, es crucial para perder peso. Entre otras cosas, dijo que mantener la masa muscular ayuda a mejorar la tasa metabólica del cuerpo: la rapidez con la que el cuerpo convierte los alimentos en energía.

"Puedes mejorar tu fuerza, mejorar tu equilibrio, ayudarte a desarrollar una buena salud ósea y más", dijo Velázquez a WebMD.

Comparó el proceso de pérdida de peso con un maratón y recomendó grupos de apoyo para motivarse y aplicaciones como MyFitnessPal, Noom y WeightWatchers para rendir cuentas.

Clic aquí para leer el artículo completo en español en Enlace Judío y en ingles aquí. 

Obesity is a chronic disease resulting in excessive or abnormal body fat. It can significantly increase an individual’s risk of developing serious health problems, such as cancer, diabetes, heart and vascular diseases, and stroke.

Velazquez told WebMD that “obesity is a very complex disease” and diet or exercise alone are not enough for most people to lose weight, keep it off long term and prevent weight-related diseases. She explained that newer anti-obesity medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration—such as semaglutide (Ozempic)—have been shown to be safe, if taken long term for weight loss and weight maintenance. But insurance coverage is “hit or miss.” 

“It’s best that you speak with your healthcare providers to find out which [anti-obesity medication] is best for you, in terms of costs,” Velazquez said.

She added that most insurers will cover bariatric surgery if a person meets the clinical criteria.

Even with these options, exercise is still key. Velazquez said strength training, which has many health benefits, is crucial for weight loss. Among other things, she said maintaining muscle mass helps improve the body’s metabolic rate—how fast the body turns food into energy.

“It can enhance your strength, better your balance, help you develop good bone health and more,” Velazquez told WebMD.

She compared a weight loss journey to a marathon and recommended support groups for motivation and apps such as MyFitnessPal, Noom and WeightWatchers for accountability.

Click here to read the complete article from WebMD.