It’s hard not to notice the volume of advertisements about weight loss these days. And while a new class of prescription drugs has allowed many people to finally shed unwanted pounds, it’s good to remind ourselves that being healthy is about more than just the number on the scale. WebMD Health Services’ Positively Me Weight Management Coaching uses a whole-person approach to help participants lose weight and feel better in multiple aspects of their lives.
Americans continue to struggle with their weight. According to the CDC, 42% of U.S. adults are obese.1 The New England Journal of Medicine estimates that 1 in 2 adults will be obese by 2030; 1 in 4 will be severely obese by 2030.2
Many individuals have found support through prescription drugs that mimic the effects of a hormone that help people feel full. When used appropriately and in conjunction with lifestyle behavior modifications, these prescription medications can result in a significant amount of weight loss.
But, we are now seeing that when those lifestyle modifications and regular medication use are abandoned, weight loss may reverse. That’s why programs that teach participants how to manage the myriad lifestyle factors that can impact weight—like how well we sleep, our mental health, and stress levels—are so important.
Positively Me focuses on the whole person.
Our Positively Me program combines one-on-one coaching with education and clinically backed research to help participants learn mental, emotional, and physical strategies for living a healthier lifestyle based on their personal weight loss goals.
Positively Me was developed in conjunction with our Clinical Advisory Board and Diabetes Prevention Program guidelines to drive long-term positive outcomes through holistic, clinically backed methods. Michael Dansinger, MD, a nationally recognized authority on dietary and lifestyle counseling for weight loss and disease prevention and a member of our Clinical Advisory Board, explains how this program focuses on more than just weight loss:
“The Positively Me program is focused on the whole person, not just the scale. The coaches use clinically proven techniques to help participants make forward progress in their well-being in many different ways. Weight loss is just one of the many health benefits that come from working with inspirational behavior change experts that care about you and believe in your full potential.”
And it’s true. Positively Me can help participants sleep better, cope with triggers, ease high blood pressure, reduce the risk of developing diabetes, and feel healthier and happier overall, among other benefits.
Here’s how Positively Me works.
After an initial call to talk about goals and program structure, coaches and participants speak every two weeks about specific topics related to weight loss, including:
- Cognitive restructuring and positive thinking
- Environment and support
- Exercise
- Nutrition
- Sleep quality
- Time management
- Tracking food, exercise and sleep
After the first six months, coaches follow up monthly to revisit any topics previously discussed and help participants sustain healthy habits for the long-term.
Together, these topics allow participants to understand their individual relationship with weight and the steps they can take to lead a healthier overall lifestyle. By talking through the common physical and emotional barriers that people face when losing weight—including mindset, understanding and coping with triggers, and finding the time for fitness—participants learn how weight loss journeys include more than just exercising and eating right.
Coaches provide the right level of structure and support.
WebMD Health Coaches are trained in a variety of techniques—such as SMART goal setting, motivational interviewing, social cognitive theory, and more—to help participants break their goals into small, actionable steps they can easily achieve. All coaches are required to attend additional training on the Positively Me program and are certified by the American Council on Exercise (ACE).
Text check-ins twice a week deliver the motivation and consistency to keep participants engaged. They can also reach a coach by phone, online, or even at the workplace if a client has WebMD Dedicated Well-Being Staff.
Positively Me integrates seamlessly into WebMD ONE.
Participants who sign up for Positively Me see all their data right on the WebMD ONE dashboard, so there’s no need to engage with an outside weight management program. And, it’s free for WebMD ONE users. From logging weight to tracking exercise to customized weight loss tips, it’s easy to stay connected and see progress.
Here’s what a few participants have to say about their experience with Positively Me:
“I am now sleeping at least 7 hours per night and I feel so much better. I have more energy and a better attitude which helps me be more productive at work.”
“I’m finally starting to feel like eating healthy is the norm and when I eat unhealthy it feels strange.”
“When I started, I weighed 330 pounds. It was time to change and it is nice to have someone calling and motivating me. I lost 44 pounds and hope to run a marathon. It is good to have someone to ask questions.”
“My A1c went from 10.4 to 7.7 and I lost 5 pounds. The best part is I am happy. I love the food I’m eating and I have energy again.”
“We’ve worked on customizing something that will work for me. The coaches are very good at figuring out what works for me personally.”
Health experts agree: it’s not that weight doesn’t matter, it’s just not the only thing that matters. From better sleep, to being more alert on the job, to just feeling happier, losing any amount of weight has positive side effects. Positively Me teaches that weight is more than just a number on the scale, and that feeling healthy is possible at any size.
