Article Category: Highlights

Overcome Obesity with the Help of a Primary Care Provider

Published on January 20, 2023

Last updated 10:07 AM December 08, 2023

If you can’t stop gaining weight or simply aren’t seeing the pounds come off no matter what you do, it’s time to consult a primary care doctor or advanced practice professional (APP).

You’re considered obese when your body mass index (BMI) reaches 30.0 or higher. Sometimes that means you gain 15 pounds, and nobody notices you’ve gotten much bigger. Sometimes it means you have a visible weight problem.

For U.S. adults aged 20 and over, there’s a 41.9% prevalence of obesity according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That most likely makes it more common than you suspected. And, even if you don’t feel like you’re severely overweight, being obese—according to the numbers—means opening the door to a long list of potential health risks.

So, if you can’t stop gaining weight or simply aren’t seeing the pounds come off no matter what you do, it’s time to consult a primary care doctor or advanced practice professional (APP).

Understanding what causes chronic weight gain

“Physicians previously thought obesity was only due to overeating and less exercise,” said Dr. Alicia Shelly, a Wellstar primary care provider. “The advice was always to move more and eat less, but it never guaranteed they would lose significant weight.”

In recent years, there’s been a shift in understanding weight gain, where it can stem from and how broad the range of categories really is. You can be obese because of:

Medical conditions
Depression or anxiety
Thyroid issues
Genetics
Immune conditions
Environmental issues

The factors that impact your weight gain drastically affect your options for treatment and what lifestyle changes you need to make to see a difference.

The one constant of obesity

Even with so many factors potentially causing obesity, the one constant is its negative impact on your health.

“There are more than 200 complications that accompany obesity,” Dr. Shelly said.

These include more serious issues like heart disease, liver disease, hypertension and diabetes, but also other risks like reproductive disorders, sleep apnea, joint pain and mood disorders.

“Losing only 5-10% of your current weight can prove beneficial at reducing the risk of many of these obesity-related complications,” Dr. Shelly shared.

Reducing your weight by just 2.5% percent can help lower your risk of diabetes, and losing just 5% percent of your weight can improve your overall quality of life.

Having the weight conversation with your provider

Being overweight—and talking about it—can sometimes be difficult. You may feel embarrassed or that your weight gain reflects poorly on you. However, seeing that so many factors can cause weight gain that may be out of your control, there’s no reason to fear this type of conversation. What’s important though, is having a doctor or APP you trust and who supports you.

Tips for discussing weight with your doctor

Be ready to talk about your weight. This conversation may include answering questions that feel uncomfortable to you but will help your doctor provide the right level of care.
Listen carefully to the health risks associated with your weight and be open to creating a strategy for even a modest weight loss, like 5-10 pounds.
Participate in the creation of your treatment plan. Consider your doctor's recommendations, and speak up about what will or won’t work for you.
Be open to losing weight at a realistic rate.

Your expectations for what weight loss should look like may be different than your health provider. However, it’s sometimes necessary to put your assumptions about weight loss aside. Use the information your doctor gives you to make an educated choice as to what’s best for your overall health.

There’s no rush to lose weight. What’s important is making positive changes that you can commit to indefinitely that will take weight off and allow you to keep it off.

What a weight loss plan may look like

Many weight loss plans begin with lifestyle changes. These can include changing how you handle stress, keeping a food journal or focusing on portion control. You may even have to add or remove certain foods or beverages from your diet.

With these changes should also come a plan for staying vigilant even when life throws a curveball to your routine.

“It is common for people to get overwhelmed with the challenges during their weight loss journey and quit,” Dr. Shelly said. “This is why a piece of your weight loss plan will include addressing potential challenges and mapping out ways to overcome them.”

Appetite suppressants may also assist with an effective weight loss plan. New weight management options have come on the market in recent years. Your doctor may prescribe an FDA-approved medication, but it’s good to know that most offer an average weight loss of anywhere between 6-15%, and all carry the possibility of side effects that range from insomnia to nausea to constipation.

Work closely with your doctor before taking any medication, and only use what they prescribe.

Beginning your weight loss journey

Once you’re motivated to start losing weight, the first step on your journey is to create a road map with a qualified medical professional as your guide. Schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or search for a primary care provider near you.

Timing the transition

“The transition usually happens between ages 17 and 19,” said Dr. Nicole Carter, a Wellstar Children’s of Georgia pediatrician. “The decision is primarily influenced by the teen and their family. Some young adults choose to move to an adult primary care provider sooner because they feel uncomfortable being in a setting with younger children.”

As one of Georgia’s largest and most integrated health systems, Wellstar offers an expansive network of primary care providers across the state—making it easier for families to find a convenient location and continue care as their needs change.

Why does this transition matter? For young adults navigating a new stage of life, healthcare can quickly fall down the priority list—especially when they feel healthy. Staying connected to care is essential.

“It's important to continue to emphasize preventive healthcare and yearly well checks,” Dr. Carter said. “Young adults also need a primary care physician they can turn to with questions about their mental and physical health.”

Gaining independence

One of the biggest adjustments during this handoff is who takes the lead.

“In adult care, the physician speaks directly to their patient. A parent can still be present or involved, but the young adult becomes the primary decision-maker,” Dr. Carter said.

That shift doesn’t happen overnight. Preparing early helps teens feel more confident managing their health, including having time alone with their provider to ask questions and speak openly.

Families can support their teen’s independence by creating space for honest conversations at home too.

“Important discussions include topics like sexuality and vaccines. It’s essential that teens and young adults are aware of their options,” said Dr. Carter.

As teens begin to play a more active role, parents and caregivers naturally step back.

“Caregivers should start allowing teens to answer questions asked by their provider and take the lead in any discussions, only filling in information when needed,” Dr. Carter said.

Avoiding gaps in care

Without a clear plan, it’s easy for care to fall through the cracks during this transition, especially around milestones like graduation.

“Before transitioning care, make sure any medications are refilled for three to six months and schedule a new patient appointment with an adult provider as soon as possible,” Dr. Carter said.

Establishing care early helps ensure there’s no disruption and gives teens a provider they can rely on as their needs evolve.

Building habits for life

The move to adult primary care is also a chance to reinforce habits that support long-term health.

With guidance from care teams and support from parents and caregivers, teens can stay on top of annual checkups, ask questions and take an active role in their care. Families can also help by building everyday skills, from understanding medical history to managing prescriptions.

Staying within a connected system like Wellstar can help simplify that process—making it easier to schedule appointments, access records and keep care on track as young adults take on more responsibility.

These early habits make a lasting difference. Together, we can help young adults move into their next phase with confidence and a stronger sense of ownership over their health.

Learn more about transitioning to adult primary care or find a provider near you.

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Highlights

Wellstar Opens New Locations in Powder Springs

To serve our community’s growing healthcare needs, Wellstar has opened new urgent care and primary care locations in Powder Springs.

Urgent Care

If you’re dealing with a minor injury or illness or need care after your physician’s regular office hours, going to urgent care is often the right choice. Wellstar Urgent Care centers provide quick, convenient care for non-emergency medical conditions such as coughs, colds, sprains, broken bones and minor bites, burns and cuts. Visit our new location at:

Powder Springs
1064 Richard D. Sailors Parkway

Check in at this location

Primary Care

Primary care is ongoing, comprehensive care and preventative medicine that helps you live a full, healthy life. Services include wellness exams, vaccinations, treatment for acute illnesses like flu and management of chronic conditions such as diabetes. Wellstar Primary Care treats patients 10 and older. Visit our new location at:

Powder Springs
1064 Richard D. Sailors Parkway

Schedule at this location

Photos of lobby and exam room

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Genetic Testing: A Critical Tool in Cancer Treatment

It's been over three decades since genetic testing was first introduced as a tool for patients at risk of hereditary cancer syndromes. In its early days, genetic testing was expensive and time-consuming (often taking up to eight weeks for results). Fast forward to today and genetic testing is now a routine part of cancer care. It’s more accessible, comprehensive and, perhaps most importantly, significantly impactful for patients and their families.

Physicians help identify patients who could benefit from genetic testing, especially when someone has a personal or family history of cancer. Genetic testing can improve treatment outcomes, guide preventive care and provide vital information for the patient's family.

Benefits of genetic testing

1. Understanding the cause of cancer

One of the most common questions from patients newly diagnosed with cancer is, "Why did this happen to me?" While many cancers are the result of environmental factors, aging and sporadic mutations, genetic testing can offer a more definitive answer. For patients with hereditary cancer, knowing their cancer is genetically driven can help ease feelings of uncertainty and guilt.

For many, this knowledge brings a sense of empowerment, as they now have the opportunity to make informed decisions regarding their treatment and potential preventive measures for the future. This hereditary cancer risk was present since birth, and there was very little if anything the patient could have done differently throughout their life to prevent their diagnosis.

2. Personalized treatment options

For patients with cancers like breast, ovarian, pancreatic and prostate, identifying genetic mutations (like BRCA mutations) can open the door to personalized therapies. The earlier in the diagnostic process the genetic test is ordered, the quicker the patient can be matched with appropriate treatments.

Knowledge of genetic mutations can also guide surgical decisions. Patients with BRCA-positive breast cancer may be candidates for risk-reducing mastectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy—both of which can lower the risk of future cancers. These decisions are most effective when genetic results are available before surgery.

3. Identification of additional cancer risks

Cancer does not always occur in isolation, especially in patients with hereditary cancer syndromes. For instance, patients with Lynch syndrome, a leading cause of colorectal cancer, are also at increased risk for uterine cancer—up to 60%. If identified before a colon resection, this knowledge could allow a hysterectomy at the same time if necessary, minimizing the risk of a second cancer and optimizing care.

Beyond immediate cancer treatment, genetic testing can also lead to additional screenings that might otherwise be missed. For example, the ATM gene is a known contributor to prostate and breast cancer. But patients with an ATM gene mutation are also at elevated risk for pancreatic cancer. While general population screening is not typically recommended, high-risk patients should begin annual imaging and/or endoscopic ultrasounds as early as age 50 or 10 years before the earliest known pancreatic cancer in their family.

4. Informed decisions for family members

A cancer diagnosis doesn’t only affect the patient—it impacts their entire family. Once a genetic mutation is identified, relatives can undergo testing to assess their own cancer risk and talk to their care teams about screenings.

Testing the affected patient first is the most informative strategy for relatives. Patients with negative genetic test results can be reassured that relatives are not at significant risk for the same diagnosis.

The role of genetic counseling in cancer care

Genetic counselors provide the expertise necessary to interpret complex genetic results, discuss the implications for patients and their families, and offer psychological support throughout the process. Genetic counseling not only helps patients make sense of their genetic test results, but also provides them with the tools to make informed decisions about their health.

Counseling also helps address the emotional and psychological aspects of genetic testing, from potential feelings of anxiety to guilt and even empowerment. Research shows that genetic counseling has a positive impact on patient knowledge, reduces anxiety and can improve overall psychological well-being during a cancer journey.

Learn more about genetic counseling at Wellstar.

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