Who this group is for
From the wisdom of the Ancient Greeks to modern day, literature has consistently suggested strong correlations between mental and metabolic health.
In 2021, the CDC reported that 1 in 5 adults in the United States was suffering with a mental disorder and separately, 2 in 5 were suffering with obesity and related metabolic health conditions. The CDC and World Health Organization both estimate that the lifetime prevalence of suffering with a mental health illness is approximately fifty percent and the projections for the development of metabolic health disorders are strikingly similar. In the U S cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes, and complications from obesity are attributed to 1400 premature deaths every day. In many cases, these illnesses and deaths are preventable.
For the past four decades or more, metabolic health recovery focused on weight loss behaviors without considering a comprehensive approach to overall patient wellness. Treatment has often exclusively relied on medication, diet, and exercise, but this approach has failed to stem the epidemic of obesity. With the exception of bariatric surgery, less than 20 % of the population with the resources to engage in metabolic recovery, have been successful at sustaining weight loss for more than two years. Sadly, even with the proliferation of new medications, for 80% of adults in the U S, frustrating patterns of behavioral relapse and weight regain have been the norm, rather than the exception.
Relapse prevention and sustainable recovery depend on awareness, decision making, motivation, a positive mindset, resilience and more. These are key cognitive and emotional constructs directly supported by mental health and emotional well-being. That said, most counseling programs do not include courses in understanding metabolic health which can present significant challenges for mental health providers working with clients seeking to recover from metabolic conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes, PCOS and more.
With over a decade of facilitating the BreakThrough! Course for Mental and Metabolic Health Recovery the authors share that the primary reasons cited for cycles of relapse behaviors center on triggers related to unhealed mental health conditions and disorders. These include depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction and compulsive behaviors, cognitive and emotional distortions, family and relationship issues, stigma, social isolation, and a lack of supportive resources.
If these conditions resonate for you then this course was designed for your unique journey of insights and sustained recovery.
