Mega Doctor News
For improved physical function, joint and bone health and mental well-being, it’s essential to maintain a healthy weight.
Achieved through balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, adequate sleep and stress management, maintaining a healthy weight helps your body function better and increases longevity.
But that’s not all… It significantly lowers your risk for serious chronic conditions like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.
“Studies suggest that overweight and obese individuals face much higher mortality risks than previously believed,” says Luis Reyes, MD, a board-certified general and bariatric surgeon who serves as the medical director of the South Texas Health System (STHS) Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery Center. “Even being only slightly overweight can take a serious toll on your long-term health, especially if you have belly fat, which is metabolically active and linked to chronic disease.”
Unfortunately, millions of Americans struggle significantly with weight, with more than 70% of U.S. adults considered overweight or obese, according to the National Institutes of Health, while 9-10% are considered severely obese, meaning they have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater.
“The nation’s obesity epidemic is driven by environmental factors like sedentary lifestyles and an abundance of high-calorie and processed foods,” says Dr. Reyes. “Other factors include biological predispositions, stress, poor sleep and socioeconomic factors.”
But there’s good news: losing just 5-10% of your body weight offers considerable health benefits, including improved heart health. better blood sugar control, less joint pain and improved sleep.
“It’s important to focus on small, sustainable changes like eating more vegetables and reducing the amount of processed food you eat, rather than drastic diets, when it comes to long-term weight loss success,” says Dr. Reyes. “Consistency with these manageable tweaks—like mindful eating, better sleep and gradual movement—is the key to achieving greater results in the long run.”
To help Rio Grande Valley residents better understand the importance of maintaining a healthy weight, STHS will dedicate the latest episode of its monthly “South Texas Healthy Living” television program to weight management.
Broadcast live on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. on KVEO-TV NBC 23, the program will feature a sit-down interview with Dr. Reyes on the complications associated with excess weight, treatment options available to help those battling the bulge and healthy strategies to lose weight and keep it off.
Additionally, STHS System Director of Marketing & Public Relations and “South Texas Healthy Living” host Tom Castañeda sits down with a Weslaco mother of two who, after nearly two decades of struggling with her weight and the health complications associated with it, opted to undergo bariatric surgery in May 2024. Nearly two years later, she’s feeling better than ever and encouraging others to pay attention to their waistline.
The program will also feature a special healthy cooking segment led by Patrick Woodin, STHS McAllen’s director of dietary & nutrition services, an exercise demonstration with a member of the STHS Edinburg OutpatientRehabilitation Center team and strategies for maintaining a healthy weight.
“When it comes to weight management, education is key. Along with building knowledge, it empowers behavior changes like healthier eating and more physical activity while improving self-assurance. It moves beyond simple calorie counting to understanding why it’s important to adopt healthy habits and how to sustain them, leading to meaningful weight loss and a reduced risk of chronic disease,” says Castañeda. “So, in this latest episode of ‘South Texas Healthy Living,’ we’ll provide essential education and important strategies, including sustainable lifestyle changes related to diet and exercise, to help you reach and maintain a healthy weight. It’s all about helping our community get healthy and stay healthy!”
To better understand the dangers of excess weight, don’t miss the latest episode of “South Texas Healthy Living” on Sunday, January 25 at 9:00 a.m. on KVEO-TV NBC 23.
To watch previous episodes of “South Texas Healthy Living” and the system’s South Texas Health Updates, one minute videos offering education on various health issues, visit South Texas Health System’s Medical Minute pageon ValleyCentral.com.
