Body Fat, Fat-Shaming & Health Issues

I often see patients complaining of various musculoskeletal issues - pains in different muscles or joints. These patients range in age and body type. Some are 65-year-old individuals with belly’s that look pregnant, complaining of knee pain without any history of injury. Other’s are nursing mother’s, at healthy BMI’s, complaining of neck and shoulder pain that shoots down the arm. Another typical one is the office desk worker - someone who’s on the computer all day - that has pain radiating down one or both arms or sciatica type pain that shoots down the sides of one or both thighs.

Most of these people have a similar problem - an issue with body biomechanics and inflammation. And most of these people have a similar goal - they want a quick answer and a quick fix. This is not the answer you may want to hear, but it is the honest answer you deserve - QUICK FIXES DON’T USUALLY EXIST.

I can give you an anti-inflammatory medication to temporarily assist with decreasing pain from inflammation, however, if you don’t fix the underlying biomechanical and inflammatory issues, the pain will recur.

I want to preface the rest of what I’m about to write with this: Recently there has been this incredibly awesome shift in transforming body image! It’s a shift that has been long awaited by many who grew up in the 1970s - 1990s, with images of anorexic looking models being the “in” thing. It’s a move in the right direction - focusing on LOVING YOURSELF FOR YOU. It’s a transformation towards allowing people to be at peace with their bodies of all types, shapes, and sizes and love each other where they are.

And…. accepting excessive, unhealthy levels of body fat and decreased muscle mass is not the best decision for your overall health and comes with a host of negative consequences. These consequences are valid and proven by years of extensive evidence based medicine and research.

Carrying a significant excess of body fat, also known as adipose tissue, not only causes biomechanical issues and strain on the joints, it also releases high levels of estrogens into the blood stream.

Estrogen is a crucial hormone that plays a vital role in various physiological processes in both men and women. It is responsible for regulating the menstrual cycle, promoting sexual development, and maintaining bone health, among other functions. However, like all hormones, maintaining a delicate balance is crucial.

The body relies on a delicate balance of hormones to function optimally. An excess of estrogen, caused by excess fat tissues, can disrupt this balance and lead to a condition known as estrogen dominance.

The symptoms of excess estrogen can manifest differently in men and women so let’s take a deeper look:

Women:

• Irregular menstrual periods

• Heavy or painful periods

• PMS symptoms (e.g., mood swings, bloating, breast tenderness)

• Fibrocystic breasts

• Weight gain, particularly in the hips and thighs

• Fatigue

• Reduced sex drive

• Hair loss or thinning

Men:

• Gynecomastia (enlarged breasts)

• Erectile dysfunction

• Reduced sex drive

• Infertility

• Fatigue

• Mood swings and irritability

It is essential to note that experiencing one or more of these symptoms does not necessarily indicate excess estrogen. These symptoms can be caused by various other factors, so consulting a healthcare professional, that you trust, for proper evaluation and diagnosis is essential.

Also, I think it’s important to think of “healthy” as a balance within a range…Not everyone is the same and there’s a general range of what is healthy based on your age and birth sex. If you are out of that range and experience disease, getting yourself back into that range of healthy with lifestyle modifications may help avoid the need for lifelong medications and a host of many other complications.

So if you’re that 65-year-old, with a pregnant looking belly, complaining of knee pain without any history of injury, my first suggestion, because I care, is to find a way to lose weight. If you are that nursing mother, at a healthy BMI, who has neck and shoulder pain that shoots down the arm, or that office desk worker who’s sitting all day and relatively inactive, my suggestion for you is either physical therapy or yoga. Correct the underlying postural imbalances in the body.

And you happen to be a person who has trouble with eating, please know that this is one of the most common disorders that hardly anyone wants to talk about or admit to! After all, if no one had issues with this, then most of our population would already be within healthy body fat percentages - which is far from the truth. So whether you are a binge eater or simply just feel out of control with food and cravings, you are definitely not alone and I would encourage you to speak with a healthcare professional you trust, who has experience with nutrition and disordered eating.

Here are a few of the basic health focus points, that you likely already know, that you should focus on in order to get and stay healthy.

• Healthy Diet: Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Limit processed foods and foods high in added sugars.

• Weight Management: If overweight, focus on losing excess body fat and increasing muscle mass through a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise.

• Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity, as exercise can help regulate hormone levels and improve overall health.

• Stress Reduction: Incorporate stress-reduction techniques such as meditation, yoga, or mindfulness to help balance hormones.

• Limit Alcohol and Caffeine: Reduce alcohol and caffeine intake, as these substances can negatively affect hormone balance.

• Detoxification: Support liver health through a balanced diet, hydration, and, if necessary, under the guidance of a healthcare professional, consider liver-supportive supplements.

• Avoid Environmental Toxins: Minimize exposure to xenoestrogens found in plastics, pesticides, and certain personal care products.

The takeaway: Keeping your body healthy and in balance, will allow you to enjoy the time you have on this earth. My philosophy is always to choose to correct the underlying issues, even if it means taking the longer, harder road.

Habit is the nature of the human - it’s what makes making even rational, healthy lifestyle changes so difficult for most of us. We are animals, creatures of habits, often despite blatant negative consequences for our health. The good news is that with appropriate positive habit coaching, you can re-wire your brain - just like learning a new sport or skill & keep yourself healthy and well!

In peace and love,

Dr. Dana