This week, Bobbi Conner talks with Bailey Edge about healthy, weight management strategies. Bailey is a registered dietician at the Weight Management Center at MUSC.
TRANSCRIPT:
Conner: I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio with Health Focus here at the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Many people set their sights on getting healthier and losing weight during the start of the new year. Bailey Edge is here to offer some tips for successful weight management. Bailey is a registered dietitian at the Weight Management Center at MUSC Health. Bailey, what are the key strategies that you focus on to help someone lose weight?
Bailey Edge: From a nutrition perspective, I focus on a calorie deficit, which means eating less calories than the body burns, building a balanced plate, practicing portion control, and then focusing on adequate protein and fiber intake are also especially helpful because they keep you feeling fuller longer, which makes it easier to stick to a calorie deficit. Exercise and behavior change are also really important.
Conner: From your perspective as a registered dietitian, why is this plan that you just outlined briefly a good approach for losing weight?
Bailey Edge: Research shows that success comes from sticking to a calorie deficit, not necessarily following a one size fits all diet. So, a balanced approach ensures that people are getting in all the nutrients that they need to minimize nutrient deficiencies or loss of muscle mass. And then I think it's also important to note that there's new weight loss medications on the markets like GLP-1, which are really helpful tools with reducing hunger and food intake to support weight loss. But that lifestyle change is still really essential, whether on medication or not.
Conner: And do you feel like part of the idea here is for someone to sort of change their thoughts and attitude about food?
Bailey Edge: Yes. I think it is important to change your thoughts around food. So, if you're looking at food from a bad or good standpoint and you're building shame around your food intake, that can make it more negative. But if you're viewing food from a standpoint of how is it supporting your body thinking, all right, you know, protein is supporting your muscle mass. Fruits and vegetables are providing you with fiber and micronutrients. And then carbohydrates, opting for whole grains, which give you more fiber. And then choosing healthful carbohydrates are also supporting your energy levels throughout the day. So, if you change your mindset to how can this food support me? I think that can help people along in their weight loss journey.
Conner: What tips can you share about setbacks that might happen when someone is trying to lose weight?
Bailey Edge: Setbacks are to be expected. They do not mean you failed. And so, with setbacks, the biggest thing is returning to plan. There are some small things that I was doing before that I can get back to. So, it's acknowledging that setbacks can happen and then figuring out, okay, how do I get back to it as quick as possible?
Conner: And what strategies or what tips can you share about maintaining a successful weight management plan once you have lost some weight?
Bailey Edge: I always point back to the National Weight Control Registry. People who are successful with weight loss tend to continue to self-monitor their weight. So, continuing to pay attention to your weight, whether it be on a daily or weekly basis long term. Also, continuing with your exercise. And then finding a calorie level that helps you maintain your weight is a good thing to focus on there.
Conner: Bailey, thanks for talking with us about these weight management tips.
Bailey Edge: You're welcome.
Conner: From the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio.
Health Focus transcripts are intended to accurately represent the original audio version of the program; however, some discrepancies or inaccuracies may exist. The audio format serves as the official record of Health Focus programming.
