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​MOMENTUM
PHYSICAL THERAPY
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​307-696-6045
Physical Therapy in Gillette, WY!
NUTRITION & WELLNESS
Obesity is a chronic disease in which excess body fat worsens health. A person who is obese has an increased risk for chronic conditions. These include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, and some cancers. Obesity can reduce a person's ability to work and do simple physical activities. It is linked to a reduced quality of life and increases the risk of early death. Obesity is a worldwide epidemic. It affects people of all ages, races, and economic levels. Adults are overweight if their body mass index is 25 to 29 and obese if their BMI is 30 or higher. Children are obese if their BMI is at or above the 95th percentile on BMI-for-age growth charts. In the United States, more than 42% percent of adults (four in 10) and nearly 20% of children (two in 10) are obese.
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Physical therapists treat pain and movement problems that can lead to an inactive lifestyle and obesity. They also help people with obesity achieve the recommended amount of physical activity. Regular physical activity at any age can improve physical and mental health. It also can help people with obesity become healthier.
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Physical therapists are movement experts who improve quality of life through hands-on care, patient education, and prescribed movement.
What Is Obesity?
Obesity is a complex disease in which the body stores excess fat. It can result from:
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Certain health behaviors.
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Environmental and cultural factors.
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Family history (genetics).
It is important to balance calories from foods and drinks with the number of calories used for physical activity to prevent excess weight gain. Finding a balance is not easy. Today’s world promotes overeating and an inactive lifestyle. Large portion sizes of high-calorie, low-cost foods are easy to access. Also, changes in technology and society linked to low physical activity have resulted in a drop in:
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Walking in favor of driving.
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More sitting and less standing while working.
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More seated activities, such as watching television and playing video games.
While families cannot change their genetics, they can encourage healthy eating and physical activity.
A physical therapist can help you prevent or manage obesity and related health problems such as:
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Cardiovascular disease
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Stroke
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Diabetes
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High blood pressure
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Cancer
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Osteoarthritis
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Lymphedema
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Breathing problems, including asthma and sleep apnea
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Depression
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Sleep apnea
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Falls
Your physical therapist treatment program will include working with you to:
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Reduce pain. Your physical therapist can teach you safe ways to do activities with the least amount of pain. Moving more can help relieve pain. Your physical therapist will develop a program to help you move more.
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Improve cardiovascular fitness. Your physical therapist will design a heart-healthy aerobic exercise program for you. This program will improve your metabolism (the process of getting energy from food). It also will help you burn more calories. Physical therapists help adults, children, and people with disabilities do aerobic activities at their comfort level.
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Improve strength. Your physical therapist will teach you exercises to address muscle weakness or improve your strength. Building muscle strength helps to:
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Burn calories
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Make daily activities easier
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Relieve joint pain
Gentle and low-impact resistance training (using elastic bands) can help you avoid joint stress.
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Improve movement. Your physical therapist will choose specific activities and treatments to help restore the normal movement of stiff joints. These might begin with passive motions that your physical therapist performs for you. Then, you will progress to active exercises that you do yourself.
Improve flexibility and posture. Your physical therapist will determine if any of your major muscles are tight. They will teach you how to gently stretch any tight muscles. Your physical therapist also will assess your posture. They will teach you exercises to improve your ability to maintain proper posture. Good posture can make doing hard activities easier and less painful. It also can improve your breathing.
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Increase activity levels. Your physical therapist will discuss your activity goals with you. They will design a safe treatment program to address your specific needs to help you reach your goals in the fastest, most effective way possible.