Lidia Adkins, DC, CFMP, and Founder of CWLI, With 12 Things She Wishes Those Struggling With Weight Loss Hear
Jan 30, 2026 09:41AM ● By Lidia Adkins, DC, CFMP
Here are 12 things I have learned as a Functional Medicine practitioner, managing weight loss patients for 12 years, and I wish anyone who struggles with weight loss would hear:
1. You are responsible for your own state of health. Our medical system is brilliant when it comes to acute care, but does very little for you when it comes to preventive care and longevity.
2. Our typical life style works against our bodies and health. 52% of the Americans are diagnosed with chronic illness, women being more impacted than men.
3. It’s not “in your head”. Did you know that, it typically takes 4 years (some studies say even longer) to receive a diagnosis for an autoimmune disease, with patients being sent from doctor to doctor during that time, while trying endless drugs which do very little for their overall health.
4. Most chronic disease is improvable and, in many cases, even reversible with lifestyle changes. Furthermore, autoimmune conditions can remain in remission with an anti-inflammatory nutrition and life style.
5. Obesity can reduce life expectancy by 10 years.
6. 50% of deaths worldwide can be attributed to inflammation-related diseases.
7. You miss a lot at weight loss if you don’t begin by addressing inflammation.
8. Weight loss is majorly impacted by addressing the underlying metabolic conditions and not just by being in calorie deficit and exercising.
9. A pill, shot or surgery should be the last resort, not the first, when it comes to weight loss and/or managing disease. A pill, shot or surgery is a temporary fix. If you don’t focus on metabolic health and lifestyle changes, you will regain your weight back.
10. Hormones matter for weight loss. Anyone saying otherwise is ignorant when it comes to human physiology.
11. Food matters. It can be medicine or poison.
12. If you wait to start until you get motivated, you will quit the moment the motivation dims or the process becomes challenging.
Lidia Adkins, DC, CFMP, is the founder and owner of Carolinas Weight Loss Institute, located at 216 S. New Hope Rd., in Gastonia. For more information, call 704-271-9757, email [email protected] or visit cwli.net.
