Mega Doctor News
It’s no secret that maintaining a healthy weight is essential for overall well-being. It helps your body function efficiently and reduces stress on joints and organs, making everyday activities easier and more enjoyable.
But that’s not all… Keeping fit significantly lowers your risk of chronic diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers while boosting energy, improving sleep, enhancing mental health, supporting joint function and increasing longevity.
Unfortunately, a vast majority of Americans do not have a healthy weight, with recent data showing over 70% are overweight or obese while only about a quarter of adults typically fall into a healthy weight range.
Meanwhile, nearly 42% are considered obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meaning more than 100 million U.S. adults have obesity alone.
Over time, excess weight creates inflammation and puts stress on nearly every system in the body, reducing both lifespan and quality of life.
“Carrying extra weight can significantly harm the body by increasing chronic inflammation and placing extra strain on organs, raising the risk for severe conditions while also impacting mental health, leading to depression and anxiety,” says Luis Reyes, MD, a general and bariatric surgeon who serves as the medical director of the South Texas Health System (STHS) Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Center. “That excess weight forces the heart to work harder, disrupts insulin use, stresses joints and affects breathing, creating a domino effect of health complications that can impact your overall health and well-being.”
Studies suggest that losing 5-10% of your body weight can result in significant health benefits, including improved cholesterol, lower blood pressure, better blood sugar control, less joint pain and improved sleep.
Balancing the calories you eat and getting regular physical activity are among the keys to maintaining a healthy weight.
“Healthy weight loss strategies are crucial for long-term success, preventing regain, and improving overall health,” says Dr. Reyes. “Healthy weight loss and maintenance involve consistent habits like regular physical activity, mindful eating, prioritizing sleep and making sustainable dietary changes.
So, to help Rio Grande Valley residents better manage their weight, STHS will dedicate the latest installment of its Let’s Talk Your Health webinar series to weight loss.
Broadcast live on the STHS Facebook page on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., the online seminar will highlight complications associated with an unhealthy weight, the key factors influencing weight loss and the importance of creating a sustainable calorie deficit are crucial through a combination of reduced calorie intake and increased physical activity, as well as healthy strategies to lose weight and keep it off long term.
For more information on the webinar, visit the STHS Facebook Events page. To watch previous Let’s Talk Your Health Seminars, visit STHSLetsTalk.com.
| Who: | South Texas Health System |
| What: | FREE virtual seminar entitled “Let’s Talk Your Health – Weight Loss” |
| When: | Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. |
| Where: | Online via STHS’ Facebook page |
