Many individuals find it challenging to lose weight and maintain that loss. This can be a frustrating experience, especially when excess weight begins to affect their health. Medical weight management programs offer a structured approach to weight loss, providing treatment within a clinical setting and under the guidance of licensed healthcare professionals. These programs often combine various strategies, including lifestyle changes, dietary modifications, and, in some cases, medication or surgery.
Understanding Medical Weight Loss
Medical weight loss is the process of losing weight with the assistance and supervision of a healthcare professional, typically a doctor. These doctors use their medical knowledge and experience to help individuals create realistic and personalized weight loss plans. They also provide motivation and support to ensure successful weight loss.
Unlike self-directed weight loss attempts, medical weight loss programs are tailored to each patient's specific needs. A care team, which may include experts in medicine, nutrition, psychology, and sleep therapy, works collaboratively to address the various factors that contribute to weight gain and obesity.
Components of a Medical Weight Loss Program
Medical weight loss programs typically consist of three main components:
Initial Counseling: This involves a comprehensive assessment of your overall health. At your first appointment, you may see an Advanced Practice Provider and Dietician who will review your symptoms, lifestyle habits, and medical history. They will also check your vital signs, weight, body mass index (BMI), and body composition, and complete a physical exam.
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Behavior Modification: This focuses on changing behaviors related to diet and exercise. It involves training to be more mindful of what you eat and how much you exercise. These changes are often the first line of treatment and are essential for the success of any medically supervised weight loss program. Doctors and technology can help patients track their food intake and manage cravings. They can also adapt exercises to individual bodies and fitness levels, which is crucial for long-term weight management.
Weight Loss Medication: In addition to lifestyle changes, medical weight loss programs may incorporate FDA-approved medications to aid in weight loss. These medications can help control hunger and promote adherence to a new eating plan. Some commonly used medications include orlistat (Xenical® or alli®) and lorcaserin. It is crucial to consult with a doctor before using any weight loss medication, as they can have potential side effects and may not be suitable for everyone.
Benefits of Medical Weight Loss
Medical weight loss offers numerous health advantages and can significantly improve an individual's overall well-being. Some of the key benefits include:
Reduced Health Risks: Weight loss can mitigate many health hazards associated with obesity, such as insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, hypoxemia, hypercarbia, and osteoarthritis.
Improved Blood Sugar Regulation: Losing weight can lead to better blood sugar control, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and improving the management of existing diabetes.
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Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Levels: Weight loss can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Decreased Risk of Chronic Illnesses: Medical weight loss can lower the risk of chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.
Improved Quality of Life and Physical Performance: Losing weight can increase energy levels, improve physical function, and enhance overall quality of life. It can also improve self-esteem and body image, leading to improved mental health and reduced risk of depression.
Better Sleep: Weight loss can improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of sleep apnea.
Improved Mobility and Reduced Pain: Losing weight can reduce pressure on joints, improving mobility and reducing pain, particularly in individuals with osteoarthritis.
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Potential Adverse Effects
While medical weight loss offers significant benefits, it's essential to be aware of potential adverse effects:
Greater Risk for Gallstone Formation and Cholecystitis: Rapid weight loss can increase the risk of developing gallstones and inflammation of the gallbladder.
Excessive Loss of Lean Body Mass: It's crucial to maintain muscle mass during weight loss to avoid a decrease in metabolism.
Water and Electrolyte Problems: Weight loss can sometimes lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Mild Liver Dysfunction: In some cases, weight loss can cause mild liver dysfunction.
Elevated Uric Acid Levels: Weight loss can temporarily increase uric acid levels, potentially leading to gout in susceptible individuals.
Less Consequential Problems: Other possible side effects include diarrhea, constipation, hair loss, and cold intolerance.
Who Can Benefit from Medical Weight Loss?
Anyone with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over can benefit from a medical weight loss program. Additionally, individuals with weight-related conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or sleep apnea may also be candidates.
Medical weight loss programs are particularly beneficial for those who have struggled to lose weight on their own or who have underlying medical conditions that make weight loss more challenging. These programs provide a structured and supportive environment, increasing the likelihood of successful and sustainable weight loss.
Components Tailored to Specific Needs
Medical weight loss programs include components tailored to specific needs. Whether you need to lose a few pounds or many, these programs can help you achieve your goals. The Stanford Lifestyle and Weight Management Center offers a medical weight loss program tailored to your specific needs, providing an array of services, from nutrition support to stress management and help with sleep issues to medications to endoscopic and surgical solutions.
The Science Behind Medical Weight Loss
The science behind medical weight loss is based on the principle of creating a caloric deficit, which means burning more calories than consumed. Medical weight loss programs typically involve a combination of dietary modifications, exercise, and behavior therapy, all of which are supervised by medical professionals.
Long-Term Success
Medical weight loss programs encourage patients to adopt healthy behaviors that will last over time, achieving long-term success. The program offers patients ongoing support to assist them in maintaining their progress toward their weight loss objectives and staying on schedule to achieve those goals.
Additional Components of Medical Weight Loss Programs
Medical weight loss at Premier Physicians Weight Loss and Wellness utilizes the expertise of their weight management providers. To develop your custom medical weight loss plan, your provider first reviews your symptoms, lifestyle habits, and medical history. Then, they check your vital signs, weigh you, assess your body mass index (BMI) and body composition, and complete a physical exam.
During medical weight loss, the Premier Physicians Weight Loss and Wellness team teaches ways to improve your diet and exercise regimens. If you’re a candidate for bariatric (weight loss) surgery, the Premier Physicians Weight Loss and Wellness team screens you for the procedure, lets you know if you’re a candidate, and refers you to a trained weight-loss surgeon.
People who are affected by obesity and have had limited success losing weight on their own may benefit from medically supervised weight loss through the Weight Management Program at NYU Langone. Their nonsurgical medical weight loss methods focus on proper nutrition, physical activity, and making healthier lifestyle choices. They work with you and your primary care physician, exercise experts, nutritionists, psychologists, and other specialty providers as necessary. The program welcomes anyone who has a weight concern and hopes to gain a sense of control over their weight.
Nonmedical Weight Loss Programs
Nonmedical weight loss programs include meal replacement programs and exercise guidance. Meal replacements can be an effective tool choosing nutritionally balanced, low-calorie foods. They offer a convenient and controlled way to manage calorie intake while ensuring nutritional needs are met. These products are designed to replace one or more meals per day and are often formulated with balanced macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals to support overall health. When used as part of a structured program, under the supervision of one of our weight management providers, meal replacements can help to achieve and maintain weight loss goals.
A new GLP-1 Weight Loss Program is designed to complement the use of GLP-1 medications typically prescribed for the management of diabetes, sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. The program integrates the use of meal replacement products, which contain prebiotic fiber and probiotics to help manage medication side effects such as nausea and gastrointestinal discomfort, along with ingredients to help maintain and build muscle.
Medical Evaluations of Weight-Related Conditions
Many medical conditions can worsen as a person gains weight. Weight loss is often the best way to manage these conditions, which include metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, and movement issues, such as osteoarthritis of the knee and osteoarthritis of the hip. Weight Management Program at NYU Langone helps you manage these conditions while you lose weight and optimize your overall health.
Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome or a history of gestational diabetes have unique vulnerabilities related to insulin resistance. Their providers work intensively with you to develop safe, effective meal plans that can jump-start and accelerate weight loss.
They have several options for those who need to lose weight prior to a medical procedure. They can even help people who have tried traditional diet plans but have been dissatisfied with the results.
Review of Medications
Many medications used to manage conditions such as diabetes, depression, seizure disorders, arthritis, and high blood pressure contribute to weight gain. There may be alternative medications or ways to manage these conditions that allow you to take less medicine. Clinicians work with your primary care physician to suggest helpful strategies.
Medications for Weight Loss
Medications that control feelings of hunger can often help you stick with a new eating plan. Medications are a tool for weight loss and work best when used as part of a comprehensive weight management plan that includes dietary changes and exercise.
Metabolic Rate Testing
Metabolism analysis helps to determine your metabolic rate, which is a calculation based on body fat, muscle mass, age, gender, and fluid retention. Your metabolic rate helps to determine how many calories your body burns while at rest. This information is used by experts to come up with a diet strategy focused on consuming fewer calories than you burn in a day. The testing, which uses a body composition analyzer, is quick, painless, and does not require a blood test or fasting.
Individual Meal Planning
Planning out meals in advance, awareness of the nutritional value of the foods you choose, and being accountable to your goals can be crucial for weight loss success. We teach you how to create a healthy eating plan and maintain a food diary.
Mindful Eating and Nutrition Planning
Mindful eating is a cornerstone of care. Eating habits, what triggers eating, and how to distinguish “head hunger,” which is wanting to eat even though you are not truly hungry, from your body’s true metabolic needs are discussed. Ways to manage stress that do not include food are also discussed.
Knowing how to read food labels and menus to find the best choices, as well as understanding food composition, plays a part in mindful eating. Registered dietitians teach you how to incorporate nutritional knowledge into your busy life while also balancing your family’s food preferences.
Self-Monitoring Tools
The bathroom scale, food diaries, and label reading can all help you reach your weight loss goals and maintain a healthy weight. Medical weight loss programs help you figure out which self-monitoring tools are best for you, and how often you should use them.
Exercise Guidance
Providers help you set exercise goals that are aligned with your current fitness level and that can be used at your local gym, at home, or in the community. Medical weight loss programs understand how difficult it can be to add regular physical activity into your busy lifestyle, so they also provide guidance that makes physical activity more enjoyable, and therefore easier to maintain as a healthy habit. Recommendations are based on professional guidelines such as those from the American College of Sports Medicine.
Finding a Medical Weight Loss Program
When searching for a medical weight loss program, it's crucial to ensure that it is supervised by qualified healthcare professionals. "Medically supervised" can have different meanings, so it's essential to verify the credentials and expertise of the providers involved.
Tailored Approach for Women
As a woman, you face many health challenges. Did you know heart disease is one of them? In fact, it’s the leading cause of death among American women. Researchers are learning more about how these two serious medical conditions are linked. And that means there are new possibilities for helping you reduce your diabetes-related risks so you can stay healthy. You can control your cholesterol levels with medications. But there are lifestyle changes you can make that can also improve your cholesterol levels - whether or not you're taking medicine.
Additional Considerations
Underlying Medical Conditions: In some cases, underlying medical conditions such as an underactive thyroid, hormone imbalances, Cushing's syndrome, depression, or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can contribute to weight gain or difficulty losing weight. A medical weight loss program can help identify or rule out these causes and develop strategies to mitigate their impact.
Medication Interactions: Certain medications or combinations of medications can also affect weight. A healthcare professional can review your medications and suggest alternatives if necessary.
Insurance Coverage: Many insurance companies cover medical weight loss services when medically necessary. It's essential to check with your insurance provider to determine the extent of coverage.