GREENSBORO, N.C. — According to the CDC, many Americans lack environments that create healthy eating habits and weight loss.
Cone Health implemented a program at its Health Weight and Wellness clinic that helps people struggling with obesity come up with a plan to build a healthy lifestyle.
WFMY News 2 spoke with a woman benefiting from the program.
Self-confidence and self-care are two skills Greensboro native Katrina Hamilton says are important if you're trying to live a happy life.
"Sometimes we look for those validations through outside forces and outside forces are not always going to give us what we need," Hamilton said.
One way she takes care of herself is through exercise.
"I do spin cycle class from 5:30 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. here at the "Y" on Mondays and Thursdays. I do weights Fridays," Hamilton said, "Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday I have swim practice."
A warning from her primary provider in 2020 is what got her into that routine after she was diagnosed with prediabetes.
"I told him this would be the first and last time we would have this conversation," Katrina Hamilton said.
Her provider told her about Cone Health's Healthy Weight and Wellness clinic so she immediately signed up.
"Healthy Weight and Wellness is a medical bariatric clinic where patients can transform their lives in the journey to do so they lose a little bit of weight, but we manage all chronic medical conditions associated with the disease of obesity," Clinic Physician Dr. Alexandria Ukleja said.
Dr. Alexandria Ukleja with Cone Health works with patients who are a part of the program. She says it challenges people's preconceived ideas when it comes to weight and food.
"It’s giving people the tools to start changing their relationship and implement some activities in the form of exercise not just to help them lose weight but be able to keep it off with that new relationship with food," Dr. Ukleja said.
After four years of participating in the program, Hamilton has seen great progress and is no longer prediabetic. She also says she's full of energy and is in awe of the hard work she’s put in over the years.
"As a woman, we don’t always do what we need to do for self-care. We always take care of everyone else so healthy weight and wellness means self-care." Hamilton said.
While working out consistently can be tough for some saying yes to that friend who invites you to take a walk or joining a group class are the small steps that can lead to a better self-care routine.
"Get started now," Hamilton said.