Local Physician Encourages Healthy Loss of Pandemic Pounds

7/1/2021

Study finds average weight gains of 1.5 pounds a month during pandemic

PALMER – As we begin enjoying the long days of our Alaskan summer and more of our community sheds its COVID cocoon, a local physician is encouraging patients to take action to shed the extra pounds they may have added over the past year of the pandemic.

Austin Bills, D.O., a primary care physician with Mat-Su Medical Group, says it’s a great time to get back on track with healthy habits and lose that extra weight.

“Many of the activities we previously participated in were halted due to the social distancing mandates brought on by COVID,” Bills said. “This created an environment of physical inertia. We had an open invitation to be couch potatoes.”

“The circumstances were just tough. In addition to limited physical activity, many were facing reduced work hours and lost jobs, so there were the additional triggers for stress eating,” said Bills.

A recent study by the University of California, San Francisco confirmed what many of our scales and wardrobes have already shown us – lower activity levels and increased snacking and overeating have added up, and not for the better. The study found significant increases in weight of roughly a pound and a half gained per month following the shelter-in-place orders issued last spring.

Even before the pandemic, CDC data from 2019 showed that 30.5% of adults in Alaska were obese. Overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher; obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or higher.

Extra pounds can increase your risk for many serious diseases and health conditions that are some of the leading causes of preventable, premature death. Overweight can lead to high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, high blood cholesterol, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, many types of cancer and other concerns.

Physical activity and a healthy diet are two ingredients that reverse weight gain and promote long-term health. While each person’s situation is different and requires a medical evaluation to create a personal, customized plan that’s appropriate for their age, activity and current general health, Bills offers some basic principles that people can use to begin their journey to healthier eating habits.

“Awareness is really the first step of putting into practice a healthy diet,” Bills said. He encourages people to read packaging labels and reduce the amount of processed foods they eat.

Bills also recommends aiming for small victories and notes that making a few strategic changes can help you lose unwanted pounds and feel better.

“Cutting sugar intake – especially high fructose corn syrup – is one action that can have a big impact on weight control. “Some people who consume sugary drinks and energy drinks are unaware of how many calories they are absorbing. That tall mocha latte is another beverage people often don’t realize is packed with sugar calories. That’s why awareness is so important.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, strategies for weight loss and weight maintenance include dietary changes, physical activity, behavior therapy, pharmacotherapy and surgery. Your primary care physician can help you determine what course of action can support your health objectives.

For an appointment with Dr. Bills, call Mat-Su Medical Group at (907) 861-1400. The clinic is located in the Mat-Su Urgent Care Center in downtown Palmer at 209 W. Evergreen Ave., and is welcoming new patients.

Austin Bills, D.O., is a primary care physician with Mat-Su Medical Group in Palmer.

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