%20are%20obese.%20These%20people%20are%20at%20greater%20risk%20for%20heart%20disease,%20sleep%20apnea,%20type%202%20diabetes,%20and%20even%20several%20types%20of%20cancer.With%20a%20new%20surge%20to%20improve%20how%20doctors%20help%20patients%20lose%20weight,%20health%20insurance%20in%20Tennessee%20is%20coming%20to%20the%20forefront%20of%20successful%20weight%20loss...){kind=link}
Tennessee Health Insurance Brings New Help To Lose Weight
It is estimated that as many as 34 percent of U.S
. adults (that's more than 72 million people) are obese. These people are at greater risk for heart disease, sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, and even several types of cancer.With a new surge to improve how doctors help patients lose weight, health insurance in Tennessee is coming to the forefront of successful weight loss systems.
Tennessee Medical Group Leads the Way in Helping People Lose Weight
William Bestermann Jr., at age 62, is the medical director of a cardiovascular treatment program for the Holston Medical Group in Kingsport, Tennessee. He has also personally helped Debra Horne, age 52, lose more than 140 pounds.
Bestermann notes that his medical group "has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars" to get their weight loss program going, and it's now self-sustaining. He's not stopping there, though. He's developing an approach for other primary-care doctors to share with their patients, too. Bestermann says, "This is one of the great opportunities to really improve health and lower costs simultaneously."
Bestermann is working on ways to help doctors treat overweight patients with a committee for the STOP Obesity Alliance. That's a coalition of businesses, health care providers, insurers, professional groups, and unions. Alliance director Christine Ferguson says that Bestermann "has been a phenomenal advocate to convince patients and physicians that they are a team attacking this problem together."
How the Doctor and Patient Team Approach Works
With heavy patients, Bestermann doesn't use words like "fat," "obese," or "morbidly obese." He recognizes that "Most overweight patients know they should lose weight. Many want to lose weight. Most want to feel better, be healthier and be around for their grandchildren."
When Bestermann met Horne, she weighed 298 pounds at 5-foot-9, and had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, and type 2 diabetes. Not surprisingly, she suffered from depression, had back and foot surgeries, and was using a motorized scooter.
Bestermann tried a different approach with Horne who says, "There was kindness in his heart and caring. He didn't throw a bunch of diet sheets at me that said eat low-calorie, low-carb, low-fat."
As Horne saw Bestermann once a month for more than a year, she reduced her weight to just 149 pounds, and her clothing size went from a size 28 to a size 8. In addition, she cut the 16 prescription pills she was taking daily down to just six. Far from using a scooter, she can walk two miles a day now, and can play with her grandchildren.
Help for Winning Your Personal War on Obesity
Having health insurance in Tennessee is necessary for programs like the one that helped Horne go from 298 pounds to 149 pounds. Bestermann's support for her weight loss lasted for more than a year, and the health benefits were well worth it for Horne. She credits Bestermann with giving her life back to her.
More and more doctors are getting the guidance they need to help patients lose weight, protect their health, and enjoy their lives to the fullest. The Centers for Obesity Research and Education are sponsoring workshops around the nation to give health professionals guidance in treating obesity.
A committee convened by the STOP Obesity Alliance is also releasing recommendations about how doctors should help patients with weight control.
In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, Obesity Society, and other professional groups have created an Obesity Medicine Physician Certification program.
This new alliance between doctors and patients to fight obesity, and Tennessee health insurance coverage for weight loss programs may help us turn the tide on the escalating obesity crisis.
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