Dr. A's 3 Tips to Get Your Metabolic Health on Track
- Jun 15
- 4 min read
Updated: 7 hours ago
Most people think metabolic health is only about weight. But it’s much bigger than that.
From low energy and poor sleep to stubborn weight challenges, and feeling “off,” metabolic dysfunction is quietly affecting millions of Americans every day — often without them realizing it. In fact, more than 9 in 10 U.S. adults* are already experiencing its effects.
That’s exactly why Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen has spent decades helping people better understand how their metabolism works — and how small, consistent habits can create meaningful long-term change.
Recently, Dr. A traveled to Galicia, Spain, a region known for its remarkable health and longevity outcomes. What he discovered reinforced a powerful truth:
Better metabolic health isn’t built through perfection or willpower alone. It’s built through healthy environments, social connection, and daily habits that work with your body — not against it.
Here are the top three lessons Dr. A says can help support your metabolic health journey.
1. Design your environment to support your health
Your environment shapes more of your habits than you may realize.
From highly processed foods and long workdays to chronic stress and sedentary routines, modern life often works against metabolic health. Over time, those small daily patterns can quietly impact energy, sleep, body composition, and overall well-being.
But one thing Dr. A noticed in Galicia was that healthy living was naturally built into everyday life.
People moved more throughout the day. Meals were more intentional. Community and connection were part of their routine — not something squeezed in afterward.
“The most important question you can ask yourself is: What is my environment designed to produce?” said Dr. A. "Start there. You don't need a dramatic overhaul — small, intentional changes in your surroundings, your schedule and your daily rhythms can create meaningful momentum toward better metabolic health."
The good news? Supporting your health doesn’t have to start with a complete life overhaul. Small changes can make a meaningful impact over time:
Prioritizing daily movement
Creating a more consistent sleep routine
Keeping healthier options accessible
Building structure into busy days
Protecting time for recovery and connection
Because when your environment supports your goals, healthy habits become easier to maintain.
2. Don’t underestimate the power of support
One of the biggest predictors of long-term success isn’t motivation alone — it’s support.
During his travels, Dr. A saw firsthand how strong social connection contributed to healthier lifestyles, lower stress, and greater resilience.
That same principle is a foundational part of the OPTAVIA approach.
“People don’t just need more information — they need someone to help them apply it in real life,” said Dr. A. "A caring, experienced coach is the force multiplier. Metabolic dysfunction didn't develop overnight, and it won't reverse overnight. But with the right support, you can be more successful. We've seen more than three million lives impacted with this approach."
That’s why coaching and community play such an important role in creating lasting change. Having someone there to encourage you, keep you accountable, and help you navigate real-life challenges can make all the difference.
And research supports it. In a clinical study, clients who worked with an OPTAVIA coach lost up to 10x more weight and 17x more fat compared to those who tried to lose weight on their own.**
Because transformation is about more than information — it’s about human connection, consistency, and support.
3. Focus on healthspan, not just lifespan
During his time in Spain, Dr. A met 102-year-old Marina Prieto.
What stood out most wasn’t simply her age — it was her vitality, energy, and engagement with life.
That experience highlighted an important distinction:
Lifespan is how long you live.
Healthspan is how well you live.
And metabolic health plays a major role in both.
Too often, people assume low energy, declining strength, or difficulty maintaining a healthy weight are simply part of aging. But many of these changes can also be signs that the body’s metabolism needs more support.
"People often attribute their fatigue, difficulty losing weight or declining energy to simply getting older," said Dr. A. "But these are frequently signs of metabolic imbalance. The choices you make today are compounding, right now, in one direction or the other. The goal isn't just more years. It's putting more livelihood into those years."
The small choices you make each day — how you nourish your body, move, sleep, manage stress, and build healthy habits — all add up over time.
That’s why supporting metabolic health isn’t just about where you are today. It’s about creating a healthier future version of yourself.
As awareness of metabolic health continues to grow, Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen was recently featured in SFGate, where he shared these practical strategies for supporting long-term health and well-being.
A healthier future starts here
Metabolic health affects far more than the number on the scale. It impacts how you feel, function, move, recover, and show up in everyday life.
That’s why OPTAVIA takes a comprehensive approach that combines science-backed nutrition, healthy habits, and personalized coaching support to help people create lasting transformation.
Because better health isn’t built overnight.
It’s built through small, sustainable choices — repeated consistently, supported by community, and designed to help you live well for the long term.
*O'Hearn M et al. Trends and Disparities in Cardiometabolic Health Among U.S. Adults, 1999-2018. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;80(2):138-151. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2022.04.046
**Those on the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan with support of an OPTAVIA coach successfully lost 10x more weight and 17x more fat than those who tried to lose weight on their own.
Arterburn LM, Coleman CD, Kiel J, et al. Randomized controlled trial assessing two commercial weight loss programs in adults with overweight or obesity. Obes Sci Pract. Feb 2019;5(1):3-14. doi:10.1002/osp4.312.
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