A survey carried out by the Ideafix Research Institute revealed that the desire of most Brazilian women is to lose weight. The study was carried out at the request of NESFIT and surveyed 800 women in order to understand Brazilian women’s perception of their bodies and to identify their eating, dieting and physical activity habits.
According to the study, half of those surveyed reported not making any effort to achieve their desired weight and, even when there is a commitment to losing weight, it is not effective, highlighting what is known as the “accordion effect.”
Dr. Emerson Cruz, doctor, writer, speaker and co-founder of the Vallis Institute, located in Tubarão (SC), draws attention to the main errors when adopting weight loss protocols without medical evaluation.
“Several causes can prevent weight loss, which highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach, combining detailed diagnosis, preventive medicine and personalized plans to promote healthy weight loss,” he explains.
Dr. Emerson Cruz says that reducing weight loss to a matter of eating less or “burning calories” is one of the biggest mistakes made by those starting weight loss protocols.
“Without proper medical evaluation, factors such as hormonal disorders, chronic inflammation, micronutrient deficiencies, and even emotional issues that could sabotage the results are overlooked,” explains the doctor.
Additionally, many people resort to medications or restrictive diets without supervision, which can pose health risks and generate a rebound effect. Proof of this is that an international survey carried out by the Gshow portal revealed that around seven in ten people (75%) who had already followed a restrictive diet regained the weight they had lost.
For Dr. Emerson Cruz, this type of behavior can be dangerous and ineffective in the long term: “Fad diets and drastic calorie reductions may even bring quick results, but they can be unsustainable and harmful. »
The doctor emphasizes that the body considers excessive restriction as a threat and reduces metabolism, thereby stimulating fat accumulation in the future. “These diets neglect food quality, gut health, hormonal status and the emotional impact of food: crucial factors for lasting weight loss,” he explains.
Causes that can hinder weight loss
On average, 59% of Brazilians are overweight. Of these, only 11% sought a formal diagnosis of the problem, according to a study conducted by the Datafolha Institute with pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, shared by Veja. Dr. Emerson Cruz points out that several causes can prevent weight loss, even when the person is dieting or exercising regularly.
“Often, weight goes unresponsive because the root of the problem does not lie in diet or exercise. Insulin resistance, changes in the gut microbiota, thyroid imbalance, lack of sleep, chronic stress and systemic inflammation are silent causes that influence metabolism and can prevent weight loss, even when the patient is doing everything right. Identifying and treating these causes is fundamental,” he explains.
The Vallis Institute promotes the perspective of lifestyle medicine
Dr. Gabriel Scalon, physician and co-founder of the Vallis Institute, emphasizes that the clinic approaches weight loss from the perspective of lifestyle medicine, which combines scientific rigor and holistic vision. This means looking at hormones, gut, mindset, sleep, lifestyle and other factors that affect weight: not just the scale. For example, according to a study by Fiocruz, 72% of Brazilians suffer from sleep-related illnesses, such as insomnia.
“We individualize care so that the process is sustainable, while respecting each person’s biology and objectives,” he explains. According to Dr. Gabriel Scalon, a broader view can help understand the reason for weight gain and guide the most effective treatment.
Therefore, different types of tests and assessments are carried out to understand the real reason behind the difficulty in losing weight. “We invested in a comprehensive survey: from common tests, such as blood count and blood sugar, to more specific functional assessments, such as gut microbiota analysis, nutritional profile, thyroid hormones, insulin resistance index and inflammatory markers,” he says.
Lifestyle medicine has gained ground in patient care. For Dr Gabriel Scalon, it contributes to sustainable and healthy weight loss, because it aims to consider the patient as a whole.
The expert explains that when we combine, based on evidence, diet, gut health, physical activity and emotional balance, it is possible to achieve lasting results that preserve health. “Lifestyle medicine is not a medical specialty, but a way of approaching each case,” he emphasizes.
Finally, Dr. Gabriel Scalon emphasizes that, to lose weight healthily and avoid pitfalls, you must understand that the process should not be a fight against the body, but a journey to take care of it.
“There is no magic solution or formula that is the same for everyone: there is an individual path, which begins with self-knowledge and the search for qualified support. At the Vallis Institute, we advocate that weight loss is the result of constructed health, and not of sacrifice or guilt. The body reacts when it is listened to”, explains the doctor and co-founder of the Vallis Institute, located in Tubarão – SC.
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