Have you been struggling to achieve sustainable weight loss through dieting alone? You're not alone. Navigating the myriad of diets and commercial weight loss plans can be overwhelming. One crucial element often missing from these programs is the personalized support of healthcare experts, a cornerstone of medically supervised weight management. This article delves into the world of medical weight management programs, exploring their components, benefits, and potential prescription weight loss medications that can aid in your journey.
Understanding Medical Weight Management
Medical weight management is a comprehensive, non-surgical approach to help individuals lose weight and maintain that loss over the long term. Unlike dieting on your own, it involves a dedicated team of experts providing guidance, support, and accountability. The primary focus is on establishing healthy daily habits that contribute to a sustainable, healthy lifestyle.
The Expert Team
A medical weight management program typically includes a doctor and a dietitian. Depending on individual needs, the team may also involve nurses, physical therapists, and psychologists, ensuring a holistic approach to weight management.
Who is a Good Candidate?
Medical weight management is particularly suitable for individuals who:
- Have tried lifestyle changes without sustained success.
- Have a Body Mass Index (BMI) that indicates overweight or obesity.
- Are unsuitable candidates for bariatric surgery due to medical or psychological conditions.
The Core Components of Medical Weight Loss
Medical weight loss programs generally consist of three main components: initial consultation, behavior changes, and, when appropriate, weight loss medications.
Read also: Learn how spa therapy can enhance your overall health.
1. Initial Consultation
The initial consultation involves a thorough assessment by a healthcare professional to understand your goals, medical history, and lifestyle. The doctor will discuss your ideal weight and collaborate with you to create a realistic plan that aligns with your lifestyle. This consultation provides an opportunity to build a relationship with your doctor and for them to gather the information needed to support you effectively.
2. Behavior Modification
Changing behaviors is crucial for effective weight loss. Weight gain occurs when energy intake (calories from food) exceeds energy expenditure (through activity). Conversely, weight loss occurs when energy expenditure exceeds energy intake. The key behaviors influencing weight loss involve consuming foods lower in energy and increasing physical activity.
Diet
During medical weight loss treatment, your doctor will create a diet plan for weight loss that includes foods lower in calories. Calories from different sources will also affect how you gain or lose weight, and your doctor will be able to walk you through some of the different diets that are used for weight loss, such high protein diets, low carbohydrate diets, and intermittent fasting.
A weight loss diet typically includes less refined carbs and more fiber-rich food and lean meats. That’s because foods that are lower in fat and higher in fiber tend to have fewer calories and fill you up more. It’s important to remember that no food is “bad” or completely off-limits.
Exercise
Exercise is very important when losing weight. Extra activity helps your body to burn the energy that it is storing as fat and helps your body to more effectively use energy from the food that you eat. It could be that you don’t know where to start with an exercise program. As part of a medical weight management program, you’ll learn about the exercises that will help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. Most people will benefit from a combination of cardio, strength training and flexibility exercises.
Read also: Facial oil: Benefits and how to use
Behavioral changes are most effective when they are individualized to meet your unique lifestyle and personality. By following a medical weight loss plan created by your doctor that incorporates exercise and healthy foods to lose weight, you will have a plan that is optimized for your specific lifestyle and needs.
3. Weight Loss Medications
Weight loss medications may be prescribed to complement diet and exercise. These medications can help the body burn extra energy; however, they may have potential side effects. Therefore, they are typically used in conjunction with other weight loss strategies and are carefully monitored by your doctor.
Prescription Weight Loss Medications: An Overview
Prescription weight loss medications work best when integrated into a comprehensive medical weight management program that includes a balanced diet and regular exercise. Your doctor will likely prescribe a limited amount of a medication initially (4-6 weeks) to assess its effectiveness and side effects.
Factors Influencing Medication Choice
- Age: Some medications are approved only for adults, while others can be used in children.
- Medical Conditions: Certain medical conditions may preclude the use of specific weight loss medications.
How Medications Work
Medications can lower your set-point body weight. This means the brain stops defending a higher weight and is comfortable at a lower weight. Instead of having hunger going up and metabolism going down, medicines can use hormonal changes to address the physiologic responses to weight loss. About 85% of people who try weight loss medications lose a significant amount of weight.
Weight loss medications are prescription drugs that help control your appetite and food cravings. Some medications also help you feel fuller sooner. Some people who take these medicines report less “food noise” in their brains. Feeling less hungry helps you eat fewer calories. This leads to weight loss. Some medications also help decrease cravings. You’re less tempted to eat fatty, salty, sweets or high-calorie foods if you have fewer cravings.
Read also: The role of alpha-keto acids in metabolism.
FDA Approval and Safety
Medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are generally considered safe and effective. Side effects, when they occur, are usually mild, such as nausea, constipation, or diarrhea. It is crucial to use only FDA-approved medications obtained via prescription.
Common Prescription Weight Loss Medications
- Phentermine: This medication stimulates the nervous system, reduces appetite, and promotes a feeling of fullness. On average, individuals may lose 15-20 pounds in six months.
- Bupropion-Naltrexone (Contrave): This combination medication includes an antidepressant (bupropion) and a medication used for opioid and alcohol use disorder (naltrexone). Studies suggest potential weight loss of up to 20 pounds, with some evidence indicating long-term weight maintenance.
- Orlistat: This medication reduces the body's ability to digest fat, leading to fewer calories absorbed. However, it can cause digestive side effects such as stomach pain and oily stools.
- GLP-1 Agonists (e.g., Semaglutide): These medications slow stomach emptying, promoting a feeling of fullness. They can also reduce glucagon release, a hormone that increases hunger. Semaglutide has shown promise in long-term weight management.
- Setmelanotide: This injection is used for obesity caused by specific genetic mutations, activating melanocortin 4 receptors in the brain to reduce hunger and boost metabolism.
- Liraglutide (Saxenda®, Victoza®): This is a GLP1 receptor agonist that treats overweight and obese patients who are 12 years and older. It was the first injectable medication approved for weight loss back in 2014. This is a daily injection. Saxenda® and Victoza® are the same medication.
- Semaglutide (Wegovy®, Ozempic®): This is a GLP1 receptor agonist that treats overweight and obese patients who are 12 years and older. This is a weekly injection. Recent studies show that it can treat fatty liver disease and lower risk of heart attack and stroke. Wegovy® and Ozempic® are the same medication. This is a weekly injection. Recent studies show that it can treat sleep apnea and reduce heart failure risk. It helps you feel fuller, lowers your appetite, and decreases food cravings. It also lowers blood sugar in people with diabetes.
Insurance Coverage
Some health insurance plans may cover prescribed weight loss medications, which can help offset costs. It's essential to check with your insurance provider for specific coverage details.
The Importance of a Holistic Approach
Reaching weight loss goals involves more than just diet and exercise. Weight control isn't always as simple as balancing what you eat with what you do. Generally speaking, when you gain weight, it means you’re eating more calories than your body is burning. But this can happen even if you’re exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet. Your caloric needs may be different because of aging or certain behaviors.
Your brain gets used to your body being a certain weight and takes steps to keep you at that size. Losing weight can actually lower your metabolic rate, meaning that your body burns through food more slowly, so you need to eat less. And that’s not the only change. After losing weight it’s common to have an increased appetite - even though you need fewer calories to support your smaller body.
To lose weight (and keep it off), it’s important to address your attitudes and emotions related to food. Food is fuel - but it’s more than that. Eating is at the center of social activities. Food can also be a source of frustration. It may seem like you can’t lose weight no matter what you eat and what you do. Even if you lose weight, the pounds can return - the process can go on and on.
Obesity medicine specialists understand the complex causes of weight gain. Anything from your genetics to your environment and stress levels can affect your weight. We know how difficult weight management can be. We’re here to help you get to the root cause of why you’ve gained weight-and what to do about it. Together, we’ll build an individualized plan and work to achieve your weight loss goals.
Additional Support Services
Comprehensive weight management programs often include:
- Registered Dietitians: Providing guidance on dietary recommendations and personalized nutrition plans.
- Exercise Physiologists: Offering exercise guidance, body composition analysis, and calorie expenditure assessments.
- Psychologists: Addressing emotional and behavioral aspects of eating, including dysfunctional relationships with food and binge eating.
- Sleep Medicine Providers: Addressing sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea, which can impact weight management.
- Liver Specialists: Caring for individuals at risk for or with liver disease.
What to Expect During Treatment
- Weight Loss Rate: Most people lose about 1-2 pounds per week while taking weight loss medicines, and sometimes even more. You will likely start losing weight within the first few weeks of treatment.
- Muscle Mass Loss: You may lose about 25% of your muscle mass as you lose weight. This can cause your metabolism to burn calories more slowly. It can also increase the risk of bone fractures in older adults. You should eat enough protein and do strength training (muscle-building exercises) at least two or three days per week to lower these risks.
Why Medical Weight Loss Works
Medical weight loss is effective due to its individualized approach, medical expertise, and ongoing support.
- Personalized Plans: Tailored to individual goals, lifestyles, and preferences, making them easier to implement and sustain.
- Medical Supervision: Designed and monitored by licensed physicians with extensive knowledge of weight loss, who can identify and address medical barriers.
- Comprehensive Support: Offering personalized support from experienced physicians, providing accountability and guidance throughout the process.
Is Medical Weight Loss Worth It?
With numerous weight loss programs and fad diets available, it can be challenging to determine the best approach. Medical weight loss offers professional, individualized care tailored to your unique needs, providing the best opportunity to achieve a healthy lifestyle.
Unexplained Weight Loss: When to Seek Medical Attention
Unexplained weight loss is a decrease in body weight when you did not try to lose the weight on your own. Unintentional weight loss is loss of 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) or 5% of your normal body weight over 6 to 12 months or less without knowing the reason.
Potential Causes
A loss of appetite may be due to:
- Feeling depressed
- Cancer, even when other symptoms are not present
- Chronic infection such as AIDS or tuberculosis
- Chronic illness, such as COPD or Parkinson disease
- Drug use such as amphetamines and cocaine
- Medicines, including chemotherapy medicines, and thyroid medicines
- Stress or anxiety
- Chronic digestive system problems that decrease the amount of calories and nutrients your body absorbs, including:
- Celiac disease
- Diarrhea and other infections that last a long time, such as parasites
- Chronic inflammation of the pancreas
- Removal of part of the small intestine
- Overuse of laxatives
- Other causes such as:
- Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa that have not been diagnosed yet
- Diabetes that has not been diagnosed
- Overactive thyroid gland
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Contact your provider if:
- You or a family member loses more weight than is considered healthy for their age and height.
- You have lost more than 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) or 5% of your normal body weight over 6 to 12 months or less, and you do not know the reason.
- You have other symptoms in addition to the weight loss.
Diagnostic Tests
A healthcare provider may order specific medical tests based on your symptoms, family history and other factors.
Other tests may include:
- Blood tests: Your blood can show signs of certain health conditions like diabetes, celiac disease and infections. It can also give your provider information about how your metabolism, thyroid and adrenal glands are working.
- Cancer screening tests: If your provider wants to rule out cancer, you may need screening or imaging tests. For example, a colonoscopy can detect colorectal cancer.
- Imaging tests: Tests like an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT scan (computed tomography scan) can provide detailed images of your organs, like your brain, heart, lungs and abdominal organs. You may need one of these tests if your provider wants to rule out tumors or diseases that may be visible on these scans.
- Urine test: A urinalysis can provide information about your kidneys and bladder, including certain health conditions and infections.
Treatment
Your treatment for unexplained weight loss depends on what’s causing it. For example, if you have a toothache, you may need to see a dentist. If the cause is a peptic ulcer, your provider may treat it with antibiotics. People with celiac disease must avoid all gluten.
Prevention
Many of the conditions that lead to unexplained weight loss can’t be prevented. But there are some steps you can take to help prevent some of them, including:
- See your primary care provider for an annual physical exam.
- Get poked and checked! Be sure that you receive all recommended vaccines and cancer screenings.
- Take prescription medications as instructed. Reach out to your healthcare provider if you experience any side effects, including changes in appetite or weight after starting a new medication.
- Take good care of your teeth and gums.
tags: #medical #weight #loss #definition