Obesity
Our comprehensive weight loss and metabolic syndrome care includes a full history and physical from a healthcare provider, personalized nutrition and exercise recommendations and prescriptions as necessary. We do have a dietitian available for telehealth consultations and will be partnering with local personal trainers to provide you a referral to somebody with similar training interest issue.
We do require several blood tests prior to initiating therapy. If you have the labs listed here less than three months ago, you may bring to your appointment. Will utilize this information. Additionally, we will require the lab test at least yearly. We do offer in-house labs if you do not have a primary care provider or have not had the labs performed recently. If we are managing other aspects of your health besides just weight reduction, such as hypertension or diabetes, we may require additional labs every three months or more to ensure medications are effective and are not having a negative effects in your body. Labs required include complete blood count, comprehensive metabolic panel, lipid panel, hemoglobin A1c, TSH, cortisol. We also recommend a testosterone level.
How do I know if I am at a healthy weight?
This depends on your height and your overall health. Doctors use a special measure called "body mass index," or "ΒΜΙ," to help understand a person's weight. Your weight and height are used to calculate your BMΙ (figure 1). Based on this number, you fall into 1 of the following categories:
●Underweight – BMΙ under 18.5
●Healthy weight – BМI between 18.5 and 24.9
●Օverԝеight – BMΙ between 25 and 29.9
●Having οbesity – BΜΙ 30 or greater.
Your provider will often want to calculate your ΒMΙ at your medical appointments. But it's important to remember your weight and BMІ are just 1 piece of your overall health. Someone with a lower BMΙ might not be healthy overall, and someone with a higher ΒМІ can still be healthy.
How does my weight affect my health?
Having οbesity increases the risks of many different health problems. It can also make it harder for you to move, breathe, and do other things people who are at a healthy weight can do easily. People with οbesitу are more likely to get diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and lots of other health problems. People with оbеѕity also live less time than people of healthy weight. That's why it's important to try to keep your weight in a healthy range.
What should I do if I want to lose weight?
If you would like to lose weight, you can start by talking to your doctor or nurse. They can help you make a plan to do this in a healthy way. They can also help you understand how many calories your body needs for energy. Losing weight takes work and can be hard, so it helps to have support. The best weight loss plans help you have a healthy view of eating and exercise. With a good weight loss plan, many people can lose weight and keep it off. Reducing calories in your diet, burning calories through exercise, or both can help you lose weight:
●Diet – There is no specific ԁiet plan that works for everyone. Many "trendy" weight loss programs can end up being more harmful than helpful. Any ԁiet that reduces the number of calories you eat can help you lose weight, as long as you stick with it. You should try to find an eating pattern that works for you. It can also help to work with a dietitian (food expert). They can help you make healthy changes to your diet while making sure you get the nutrients your body needs.
●Movement – Even gentle forms of exercise are good for your health. You can walk, dance, garden, or even just move your arms while sitting. For weight loss, the important thing is to increase the number of calories you burn by moving more. Combining a healthy diеt with regular physical activity can help you get the best results. This is important even if your doctor recommends treatment for weight loss.If you change your eating or exercise habits for a short time, you might lose weight. But you will regain the weight if you go back to your old habits. Weight loss is about changing your habits for the long term.
Can medicines help with weight loss?
Sometimes. Prescription weight loss medicines work by reducing your appetite or by changing the way you digest food. Your doctor might recommend medicine if you have not been able to lose weight in other ways and you:
●Have a BMІ of 30 or greater, or
●Have a ΒMІ between 27 and 29.9 and also have weight-related medical problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure.
Providers sometimes prescribe "incretin-based" medicines to help with weight loss. These were originally used in treating diabetes. But they can also help with weight loss in some people without diabetes. Examples include:
●Tirzepatide (sample brand names: Zepbound, Mounjaro)
●Semaglutide (sample brand names: Wegovy, Ozempic)
●Liraglutide (sample brand name: Saxenda)
Currently, these medicines come as shots that go under the skin and there are compounded oral forms. They work by increasing the amount of insulin your body releases after eating. (Insulin is a hormone that helps control your blood sugar level.) They also slow digestion and make people feel full more quickly. These medicines can work well for weight loss. But they can also cause side effects, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation. And they can be expensive. Most people have to keep taking these medicines long term. If they stop the medicine, they often gain back the weight they lost. There are other medicines that can be used for weight loss, too. Medicines can be a helpful part of treatment for some people. But even if your doctor does prescribe medicine, they will also still recommend making lifestyle changes. This can help improve your overall health. If you are interested in taking medicine to help you lose weight, talk with your doctor. They can help you understand your options.