Medical Weight Loss
If you are struggling to lose weight even though you are following a healthy diet and exercising regularly, you are not alone. Some people need medical intervention to support weight loss goals. Weight loss medications can help you lose up to 15% of your body weight, but they are only one piece of the puzzle. They are intended to help you develop a framework to change your overall lifestyle by improving your diet, exercising regularly, and building more muscle mass to improve metabolism.
Obesity can develop over time as a result of consuming more calories than your body requires to perform general functions, including physical activity, digestion and breathing. Your body uses key nutrients in the foods you eat, including carbohydrates, proteins, sugars and fats, to store as energy. Some is used immediately for daily functions and some is stored for future use. If you have an energy, or calorie, imbalance, which means your energy in is higher than your energy out, then your body stores more fat than it needs. Both sides of the equation can lead to obesity. The amount and type of food you eat is your energy in. Your level of physical activity is your energy out. Factors that affect your risk for developing obesity include:
Unhealthy eating habits including excess saturated fat and sugars
Overeating
Lack of physical activity
Poor sleep quality affects the hormone that controls hunger signals
High stress levels trigger the release of hormones such as cortisol which controls energy balance and hunger
signals
Genetics can cause a pre-disposition for obesity
Health conditions such as metabolic syndrome may cause weight gain
Medicine may interrupt the chemical signals that communicate hunger to your brain
Excess weight is more than a cosmetic concern; it is a complex disease characterized by excess levels of body fat. Being overweight or obese can put you at risk for developing a number of chronic conditions and complications. These include:
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Liver disease
Sleep apnea
Cardiovascular disease
Stroke
Difficulty breathing
Gallbladder disease
Musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis
Diminished self-esteem
Weight Loss Options
Obesity is a disease that can be treated like any other disease. The treatment approach depends on a patient's BMI and may require multiple steps. For patients who have recently gained a significant amount of weight, diet and exercise may be the first step because it is the safest way to lose weight. Some patients may qualify for weight loss medications, which can work well for patients with a lower BMI who would benefit from a 10-15% loss in body weight. Patients with a higher BMI (over 40) may benefit from medication as a first step but may need further intervention, such as weight loss surgery, to achieve success.