An Influencer With Heart

George Adesina, MD, MSPH, FACC: Cardiology, Clear Lake Clinic, and Pearland Clinic

November 2024

Dr. Adesina has always made living a healthy lifestyle a top priority, but even he got off track during the COVID pandemic. This motivated him to leverage social media to share his journey back to optimal health while educating and coaching others on how to make healthier life choices.

You’re very active on social media. How did that start, and what’s your goal in that?

When COVID started, I had a lot of people messaging me on social media asking questions because they knew I was a doctor, and they were concerned and confused about the pandemic. I knew I had a responsibility to be a beacon of education and encouragement. Once I started posting, I gained more and more followers and realized I could use social media to motivate and educate.

Let’s talk about your Instagram Workout With Dr. A Challenge.

During COVID, I actually gained about 25 pounds. I was stress eating; my wife was pregnant during lockdown; my blood pressure went up. In addition to that, I have scoliosis, and working out really helps me manage that. Also, I was seeing younger patients who had conditions that were 100% preventable. They were sedentary and dealing with obesity and high blood pressure. So, during Heart Health Month, I thought I’d motivate my followers to get moving by sharing live workouts and encouraging followers to join me. I started by tagging people and ended up with 1,000 participants. I plan on doing the Workout With Dr. A Challenge annually and offer in-person workouts with partner trainers.

What types of physical activity are part of your personal workout routine?

In addition to strength training three times a week, getting on my Peloton bike once a week, and yoga once a week, I love to do activities on the weekends that allow me to spend time with my kids, like taking a walk with them in a wagon, playing at the park, or running around the backyard.

What are the top barriers to good health today?

I’d say one is education. There’s so much information out there – we live in the information age – but people don’t know who to listen to and what information is correct. There’s a lot of conflicting information out there.

Another is time. The most common reason people give for not working out or focusing on their health is not having enough time. They’re overwhelmed with work, activities, and taking care of other people, so they tend to put their health on the backburner.

What are your top tips for those looking to live a healthier lifestyle?

First, keep moving. Find an activity you like and do it three to five times a week. It should be something that gets your heart rate up for at least 20 to 30 minutes. And make sure it’s something that’s sustainable and weatherproof. You may enjoy walking outdoors, but is the weather going to prevent you from doing so? Always have a backup plan. For example, if you walk and the weather is bad, go walking in a mall. Choose something you can stick with.

Also, follow a heart-healthy diet. There are a lot of diet trends out there, but the best bet is to eat lean proteins, limit unhealthy fats and salt, and eat healthy fats and carbs.

Finally, find a physician you can trust. They should not only be specialists in their field, but they should also listen to you and respect your goals. I believe patients should be active participants in their healthcare and your doctor should work with you to help you meet your goals. You should also be open with your doctor about your eating and fitness habits so they can factor those into your treatment plan.

What are your thoughts on current diet trends?

There are diets out there that are great for short-term results, but most of them are too restrictive to sustain. If you just want to lose a few pounds for an event, then a low-carb diet or other trend may work for you. But for overall health, you need to choose something that can become a lifestyle. There can also be health implications with some types of diets. Always talk to your doctor before starting any diet.

What’s one final piece of advice to those who want to live healthier lives?

My focus is always on prevention. You don’t wake up with heart disease at 60. You have to make changes in your 30s and 40s to help prevent it. I dropped 10 pounds just from bringing my lunch to work instead of going out. There are little changes you can make every single day.