27 Jan What’s the Weight Loss Halo Effect and Why Does It Matter?
Losing weight comes with many benefits.
Most people already have a good understanding of how weight impacts important health markers such as cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure.
As a person loses weight, they usually start to notice other benefits they hadn’t imagined like fitting into seats at the amusement park, boundless energy, or just sweating less.
But there’s another benefit that doesn’t quite get the attention it deserves: the halo effect.
By embarking on their own weight loss journey, a person can have a far reaching positive impact on everyone around them.
The Remarkable Halo Effect
The halo effect refers to a phenomenon that occurs when a person impacts the behaviors of those around them in a positive way usually by losing weight or making healthy self-improvements.
Believe it or not, there are some studies to back this up.
Research shows that when a person loses weight, their family members, close friends, and even coworkers are more likely to lose weight as well.
Eating Habits Have a Ripple Effect
A lot of studies on this effect involve families.
Why?
The act of eating is a social event that ties families together. People pass down things like traditions and cooking styles to new generations. Unfortunately, families also pass down less than ideal eating habits and food choices.
Dr. John Morton is a bariatric surgery director at Stanford University who decided to conduct a formal study on this remarkable effect.
Dr. Morton tracked 35 patients who recently received gastric bypass surgery. When he checked-in with these patients a year later, he discovered that their overweight or obese family members had also lost weight: anywhere from 8 to 45 pounds. That’s pretty significant.
Doctors already know that genetics play a key role in weight. To what extent? It’s hard to say.
Is family weight gain caused by shared environmental habits or does it come from DNA? Probably a little bit of both but pinpointing the how’s and why’s isn’t exactly simple.
Studies on the halo effect show that although a person can’t change genetics, he can have a positive effect on those around him – and possibly even change long-term habits for the better.
It Goes Far Beyond Weight
The same effect seems to take place when people quit smoking or drinking: people around them also feel compelled to quit.
“If they can do it, why can’t I?”
Still, this goes way beyond physical health alone.
Think about all the qualities a person gains or improves upon when they drop a few pounds:
- Determination
- Motivation
- Energy
- Productivity
- Confidence
This isn’t meant to imply that overweight folks lack motivation or confidence, but losing weight takes a lot of hard work and determination. It’s a remarkable challenge that takes immense effort and perseverance.
As a person loses weight, their positive attitude rubs off on everyone around them from coworkers to family members. When someone feels good about himself, other people notice and they want to feel that way, too.
How Weight Loss Surgery Can Help You and Your Loved Ones Reach Your Goals
Families preparing to begin their journey together have never had more medically assisted options at their disposal.
Weight loss surgery has come a long way from the days of gastric bypass and lap bands.
Yes, those methods are still available, but a broad range of non-invasive – and even non-surgical – options are also very accessible today.
- Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG)
- Re-Shape Gastric Balloon
- Orbera Intragastric Balloon
- Gastric Sleeves
- Kybella Cosmetic Injections
Many of these minimally invasive procedures are excellent options for patients who aren’t ideal candidates for traditional surgeries like gastric bypass.
It’s important to develop a personalized strategy for addressing lifestyle changes in combination with any weight loss surgery. Many patients regain weight after surgery because they fail to make adequate changes.
Nutritional counseling and cognitive therapy are just as important as the surgery itself.
Ready to Experience the Halo Effect? Doctor Marvin Can Help
For those who are ready to begin their journey, Doctor Marvin can help.
Doctor Marvin specializes in a broad range of non-invasive weight loss surgery procedures as well as non-surgical options such as ESG, medical therapy, and medically supervised nutrition plans. They also have four convenient locations to meet patient needs.
Contact Doctor Marvin today or call toll free at 877-671-2517 to schedule a consultation.
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