Obesity is a growing concern in America, with a significant portion of the population grappling with being overweight or severely obese. Tackling this issue requires a comprehensive approach, considering the intricate set of hormones that regulate weight and the challenges of maintaining long-term weight loss. Fortunately, National City offers various weight loss programs designed to provide guidance, support, and structure to help individuals achieve their health goals.
Understanding the Challenges of Weight Loss
Sustained weight loss can be challenging, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Factors such as stress and the prevalence of fast-food options contribute to the difficulty of losing weight and keeping it off. Many individuals have experienced the frustration of dieting and exercising, only to regain the weight after a short period.
Personalized Weight Loss Plans
Recognizing that each patient is unique, many weight loss programs in National City offer customized, nonsurgical plans tailored to individual needs and preferences. These programs understand that weight loss involves more than just focusing on numbers alone. UC San Diego Health, for example, specializes in working with people who need to lose weight to resolve chronic health conditions, offering one-on-one consultations with weight loss experts, including physicians and registered dietitians.
Lifestyle Medicine Approach
Some programs, such as the one offered by UC San Diego Health, incorporate a lifestyle medicine doctor who personalizes care. This may include group classes led by a physician and a health coach, along with sessions with a certified health coach who provides motivation, accountability, and behavioral strategies to promote weight management. The frequency of these sessions varies based on individual needs.
Gameday's Physician-Led Program
Gameday offers a physician-led weight loss program that aims to help individuals achieve better health without surgery or intense dieting. Their medical weight loss programs begin with a comprehensive assessment of overall health, including medical history, current medications, and any underlying medical conditions that may impact weight loss efforts.
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Medical Weight Loss: A Supervised Approach
Medical weight loss provides a structured and supervised approach to losing weight, guided by healthcare experts. This approach often includes prescription weight loss drugs, which may be covered by some insurance plans. However, it's important to note that Medicare often does not cover weight loss medications, even with a supplemental plan.
GLP-1 Injections: A Promising Treatment
One of the advancements in medical weight loss is the use of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists. These medications mimic the hormone GLP-1, which regulates hunger and food intake. GLP-1 injections are typically administered once per week as a subcutaneous injection, with the dosage gradually increased over time based on individual health, weight, and needs.
A recent study involving 1,961 participants with a BMI over 30 (without diabetes) demonstrated that GLP-1 injections, combined with exercise, resulted in a mean decrease in body weight of 14.9% over 68 weeks. It often takes four or more weeks on a dose of 0.5 mg for patients to start seeing a decline in weight. Studies have shown that GLP-1 is most effective when combined with exercise and changes in diet. Potential side effects can include headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, dizziness, changes in mood, constipation or diarrhea, heartburn, and bloating.
Dr. Erica Oberg's Telehealth Approach
Dr. Erica Oberg's approach to medical weight loss makes it more accessible through a telehealth format. She combines advanced weight loss medications with holistic treatments and health coaching to provide a custom, comprehensive weight loss program. This approach prioritizes lifestyle changes, nutritional advice, and continuous assistance.
GLP-1 Treatments, Semaglutide, or Tirzepatide
Dr. Oberg offers GLP-1 Treatments, Semaglutide, or Tirzepatide, groundbreaking medications that represent a major step forward in weight loss treatments. These medications mimic the action of the body's natural GLP-1 hormone, helping to curb hunger, boost feelings of fullness, and slow down stomach emptying, ultimately leading to a reduction in caloric intake and improved blood sugar control.
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Clinical studies have shown that people taking GLP-1 Treatments, Semaglutide, or Tirzepatide for weight loss have lost, on average, 10-15% of their body weight over a 6-month to 1-year period. These medications are specifically intended for individuals diagnosed as obese who find it challenging to lose weight through diet and exercise alone.
Benefits of GLP-1 Treatments
- Curbs appetite and cravings
- Slows digestion
- Decreases the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes
- Helps people keep off weight even after treatment ends
- Can be taken regularly from home or office
Shapely Weight Loss Program
Shapely is a medical weight loss program that provides care via telehealth, offering affordable weight loss medications and consultations with experts. As a Shapely member, individuals have access to:
- One-on-one consultations with board-certified physicians and providers
- Prescriptions for weight loss medications (if appropriate)
- Access to a personal dietitian and meal planning
Shapely offers both insurance-based and cash-pay options. Their physicians can prescribe medications like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, and more, if appropriate. The program also emphasizes lifestyle changes, with access to a personal dietitian and meal planning to help individuals stay on track.
Success Stories
Many Shapely customers have reported significant weight loss and improved health outcomes. For example, Vanessa lost 53 lbs in 9 months, Kathy lost 42 lbs in 6 months, and Tara lost 72 lbs in 12 months. These success stories highlight the potential of Shapely's program to transform lives.
Empower Medical Weight Loss Clinic
Empower Medical Weight Loss Clinic offers the latest FDA-approved weight loss prescription medications, along with B12, B complex, Lipo-B, and Lipo Plus injections. Their team of board-certified doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurses helps patients learn about portion control, curb emotional eating, improve food choices, and use exercise to achieve and maintain their goal weight.
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Slim Wellness Center
Slim Wellness Center is dedicated to empowering individuals to take control of their health and well-being. They provide specialized weight-loss treatments tailored to individual needs, combining expertise, innovation, and compassion to support individuals in achieving their goals.
Tailored Treatments
Slim Wellness Center offers a range of advanced services designed to address specific health and wellness goals. Their expert team provides personalized care and utilizes cutting-edge treatments to help individuals achieve optimal results. They also emphasize the risks of excess weight, including the increased risk of chronic diseases and the negative impact on daily life.
Four-Step Program
Slim Wellness Center's comprehensive weight loss program includes:
- Consultation: A thorough discussion of weight loss goals, medical history, and lifestyle to create a personalized treatment plan.
- Meet the Practitioner: Ongoing support and monitoring from a dedicated practitioner who adjusts the treatment plan as needed.
- Treatment: Tailored treatments, including Semaglutide, Trizepatide, and other therapies.
- Aftercare and Follow-ups: Ongoing support and follow-up care to ensure long-term success.
Nutrition and Lifestyle Changes
Regardless of the specific weight loss program chosen, nutrition and lifestyle changes are essential for achieving and maintaining weight loss.
Nutrition Strategies
- Personalized Nutrition Care: Many programs offer personalized and compassionate nutrition care for every stage of life, including weight management, bariatric surgery support, metabolic health support, and nutrition strategies to aid GLP-1 therapy.
- Plant-Based Protein Swaps: Explore smart, simple plant-based protein swaps to support health without relying on meat.
- Avoiding Processed Foods: Limit processed foods, which often contain empty calories and added sugar.
- Emphasizing Vegetables: Increase vegetable intake, as they are nutrient-dense and provide significant nutrition with few calories.
- Consistent Eating Routine: Sticking to a consistent eating routine can help control food intake and improve health.
Lifestyle Adjustments
- Regular Physical Activity: Engage in regular physical activity to burn calories and make the most of the food you eat.
- Habit Tracking: Use a habit tracker to visualize progress and celebrate milestones.
- Consistency: Staying committed to health changes is key to achieving meaningful results.