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Professional Courtesy: Losing It Is Just the Beginning by Dr. Thomas Giacobbi

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Categories: Health, Wellness and Ergonomics;
Professional Courtesy: Losing It Is Just the Beginning

by Thomas Giacobbi, DDS, FAGD, editorial director

Happy New Year! Normally this is a time to set goals and make plans for future success. In the spirit of the season, I’m sharing a personal story of achievement that began at the end of 2021 and can possibly serve as an inspiration for you in 2022.

I have been overweight for most of my life and, as most of us do, I learned to live within that reality. I continued to make poor nutritional choices, exercised rarely and accepted that I would always be plump. It’s no secret that these would be bad choices in the long term, but they were easier than correcting those behaviors. In the spring of 2021, I reached a turning point that provided the impetus to make a change.

At my annual physical, my blood pressure, which had been “running high” for several years, had reached a point where my physician said it was time to start taking blood pressure medication. I have seen too many patients who take medications like this as if they were daily vitamins—simply accepting it as the way to address a serious problem. I had also been struggling with acid reflux over the past two years and was taking prescription and over-the-counter medications to address the symptoms. If that wasn’t enough, my fasting bloodwork came back and while my glucose level was normal, I was probably one bag of M&M’s away from being prediabetic. It probably goes without saying that a year into the pandemic, I was also at a new high mark for body weight (241 pounds).

I went through most of the summer monitoring my blood pressure improvements from the medication and wondering if this was my future—depending on a growing number of medications to simulate a state of health. Seeing myself in photographs with my family was a stark reminder of my physical decline, and I decided to take decisive action. I was dipping my toe in the obese category of the BMI scale, so I needed a professional to help me fi nd my way back to a healthy weight. I reached out to my physician for a recommendation to a specialist who could help me with my weight. I found a doctor who was board-certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine.

My plan focused on a strict diet that ensured I was receiving the proper balance of nutrients and a calorie count that would allow for weight loss over time. I went to the physician for weekly office visits, had regular blood draws to monitor my health and progress, and attended group classes (over video) to address the many psychological and lifestyle issues associated with maintaining a healthy weight.

I’m writing this column after completing three months of this program. So how am I doing? I’ve lost 40 pounds, the blood pressure and reflux medications are no longer needed, my bloodwork is back to normal, some of my clothes are too big and I have the energy to be more physically active. I’m thrilled with my progress! But I know that I have plenty of hard work ahead of me. I have some more weight to lose and I need to solidify my exercise routines and make a successful transition to healthy eating habits. Losing the weight is just the first step, and maintaining that weight is the real challenge.

I want to emphasize that I didn’t write this column to provide a “how-to” for losing weight—every person’s circumstance is different. I wanted to share my story for three reasons. First, I hope that my success can be a catalyst for someone else to make a change in their life. Second, I want to make myself accountable for the progress I have made. Finally, I want to use this story as a reminder that the impact you can make on your patients is not always the obvious changes we see with a new smile or fixing a broken tooth.

I knew before I met my doctor that my eating habits were the central reason for my weight issues, but his treatment plan, guidance and support helped me make the necessary changes. Dentists and hygienists do the same thing every day for their patients’ oral health. There may be days when you feel nobody is listening to your advice, but remember, they already overcame the first challenging step: They are sitting in your chair.

What are your goals for 2022? Please share your comments below. If you want, you can also reach me by email at tom@dentaltown.com.
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