What a Primary Care Physician Wants You to Know About Obesity
Obesity is not a personal failure. Learn how sleep, stress, movement, awareness, and small changes can support healthier, sustainable weight loss.
By Preeti Saran, MD, MPH, MBA, Internal Medicine Physician, Virtua Primary Care
Obesity is one of the most common health conditions I see—and also one of the most misunderstood. Obesity escaped meaningful discussion for years because it wasn’t seen as a disease. Like other chronic diseases, it is a complex medical condition influenced by genetics, hormones, metabolism, sleep, stress, medications, and the environment. It increases the risk for diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, joint pain, and certain cancers.
But what I want my patients to know is this—obesity is not a personal failure.
When a patient comes to the office, I start by understanding you. I look at the whole picture—your medical history, lifestyle, stress levels, sleep, medications, family history, and daily routines. After helping you understand how obesity works in the body, we create a plan together. That plan may include lifestyle changes and, when appropriate, medications—always based on your overall health status.
Here are the five principles of obesity treatment I focus on:
1. Awareness comes first.
Before making changes, I help you understand your patterns—what you eat, when you eat, and why. Sometimes it’s hunger. Sometimes it’s stress or a habit. When we understand the pattern, we can make realistic changes that actually last.
2. Sleep is powerful.
Poor sleep makes weight management harder. It increases hunger hormones and affects blood sugar. Improving sleep can be just as important as improving diet.
3. Stress affects the body.
When we are stressed, our hormones shift. Some people lose their appetite, while others crave comfort foods. This is not weakness—it’s biology. Addressing stress is an important part of treatment.
4. Movement is about health, not punishment.
Exercise does not have to be extreme. Walking, stretching, light strength work—these all improve heart health, mood, and energy. Movement is medicine, even if the number on the scale doesn’t change right away.
5. Small, steady progress matters.
You do not need dramatic weight loss to see health benefits. Even 5 to 10% weight loss can improve blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and joint pain. Slow, steady progress is more sustainable.
In my experience, effective obesity care is not about perfection. It is about understanding the whole person and building habits that fit real life. With the right support and plan, meaningful improvement is absolutely possible.
Need help losing weight?
Virtua primary care clinicians care about your health and well-being as much as you do. Schedule a primary care appointment online or call 888-847-8823.
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