A recent survey by Allurion reported that around half (49%) of the UAE population have a higher body weight than what they would consider "normal". In comparison, 20% of Emiratis declared to be living overweight or obese. That said, 74% have set weight loss goals for themselves during the next 12 months.
Many people find losing weight challenging because they set unrealistic goals, from losing twenty kilograms quickly to moving to a highly restrictive diet of just salads or certain food groups. And, whilst these "quick-fix" methods may work in the short-term, weight gained back is inevitable and leads to feelings of discouragement. I often get questions from my patients on why this happens. The answer is simple: either they have undergone a rigorous diet plan or exercise routine, which is not sustainable, or they have yet to attempt to address the underlying causes of their weight gain in the first place.
When people enlist my expertise to support their weight loss journey, the recurring theme is that they have tried many weight loss approaches before but are now ready to choose a medical weight loss option. And that's the right choice to make, as science shows us that diet and exercise alone is not an effective obesity treatment; instead, diet and exercise are a core component, but other methods are needed to help deliver significant weight loss. And the good news? The weight loss delivered through the Allurion Program, an average of 10-15% TBWL, is proven to deliver significant health benefits and help to make you feel happier and healthier.
1. Healthy heart, healthy you.
It may sound like an oversimplification, but according to The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, weight loss can lower one's blood pressure. And in turn, it reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol, and other cardiovascular diseases. Also, losing weight can help prevent it from developing in the first place if you don't have high blood pressure.
2. Losing weight can support type 2 diabetes health.
According to the Diabetes Organization UK, losing 10% of your total body weight can improve blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. As a result, you'll be able to stop or reverse some of the damage caused by being overweight or obese before it becomes severe enough to require medical intervention.
3. Break the pain cycle.
Body pain is a common problem that many people suffer from, and it can be highly debilitating. It can cause you to lose sleep, be unable to perform your normal daily activities, and even make you feel depressed. However, a study found that reductions in body weight reduce discomfort not only in the expected areas, such as the knees and hips but also in the abdomen, arms, chest and jaw. Moreover, those who lost at least 10% of their body weight showed greater improvement than those who lost <10%.
4. Feel great.
Excess weight impacts your health - and the way you feel. Losing 10-15% of your weight loss can improve your quality of life across all measures, such as physical function, self-esteem and work-related quality of life. Other benefits of large weight losses include reduced cancer risk and improvements in knee osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and fertility-related endpoints.
