Dr. Brittany Booth’s Weight Loss Journey
Dr. Brittany Booth experienced a pivotal moment, one that would stick with her for years. Almost 30, and just out of medical school, she was a resident physician in Pennsylvania. A major part of her role involved guiding patients on maintaining their health through weight management.
Yet, she found it increasingly challenging to have these discussions as her own weight climbed. At her heaviest, she hit 230lbs, which classified her as morbidly obese for her height of 5 feet 2 inches.
The turning point came during a conversation with a patient. While she was advising him on how to lower his blood pressure by losing weight, he shot back, “Well, you go first.”
Dr. Booth recalls, “He was kind of snickering at me.” Such uncomfortable moments became more frequent, leading patients to point out her perceived hypocrisy.
Like many struggling with their weight, Dr. Booth had tried numerous fad diets throughout the years, only to abandon them after becoming frustrated with the slow progress. Comfort eating didn’t help either; there were days when she could finish off half a tub of ice cream.
However, the awkward interactions with her patients ignited a new motivation. In August 2014, she made a commitment: she would focus on improving her health, no matter how long it took.
Subsequently, she engaged in a two-year journey, ultimately shedding 120lbs, averaging about 1lb per week. Fast forward nine years, and now at 41, Dr. Booth weighs around 110lbs and has successfully maintained her weight loss since.
What’s impressive is that she accomplished this without weight-loss medications, relying instead on dietary changes and moderate exercise.
Initially, Dr. Booth explored various diet plans. Through her research, she noted a consistent trend regarding the obesity epidemic in the U.S., which began in the early 1980s. It coincided with dietary guidelines encouraging a low-fat, high-carb diet.
At that time, obesity rates were around 15%—a stark contrast to the more than 40% seen today. Experts suggest that while few adhered strictly to these guidelines, food companies reformulated their products to seem healthier by cutting fats and adding sugars.
Dr. Booth realized that carbohydrates contribute more to weight gain compared to fats. This insight led her to adopt a low-carb, high-fat diet, focusing on unsaturated fats from sources like olive oil and fatty fish.
For six out of seven days, her meals consisted mainly of meats and vegetables, without counting calories. She ensured every meal featured a generous portion of protein, alongside nuts or cheese as snacks. And yes, she ditched those ice cream binging sessions.
In terms of exercise, she sought alternatives to traditional approaches like running or weightlifting. Simple changes, such as parking farther away to walk and opting for stairs, helped her incorporate more activity into her daily routine.
Although her weight loss was gradual, there were weeks without visible progress, sometimes even gaining a couple of pounds. In contrast, those using medications like Ozempic tend to lose weight at a much quicker pace.
Juggling her career and kids, who were picky eaters, Dr. Booth often prepared two separate meals—one for herself and another for her children. Interestingly, when she started her weight loss journey in 2014, Ozempic wasn’t an option; now she thinks she would have considered it. But she appreciates having built the habits that allowed her to lose and maintain the weight loss effectively.
Statistically, only about 20% of those who stop using weight-loss drugs manage to keep the weight off. Many regain what they lost, and more. Dr. Booth feels her method of weight loss provided her with credibility in her profession.
With the current trend favoring rapid weight loss, she points out that it isn’t necessarily a healthy approach and can lead to various health issues. Slower weight loss, in her opinion, can be more sustainable and bring fewer side effects.
The slow process allowed her body to adapt without severe repercussions, though she eventually opted for surgery to remove excess skin, a more cosmetic choice than necessary.
Reaching her goal weight led Dr. Booth to establish her own weight-loss clinic, Body by Barker, in York, Pennsylvania. “People take my advice more seriously now,” she notes, reflecting on how her journey has impacted her professional credibility as a weight-loss coach.
