Wellness

What is medical weight loss?

Medical weight loss programs help you lose weight safely and keep it off long-term. Your provider at Healing Head to Toe designs your weight loss program to suit you. They combine proven treatments with reliable information and advice.

Many people have problems losing weight. They often turn to widely advertised fad diets and miracle cures that don’t have much basis in science. You might have lost some weight if you’ve tried one but soon put it back on.

Medical weight loss is different. Your provider completes a thorough checkup and runs tests to look for underlying health problems. They can treat conditions like diabetes and hormone imbalances that make it hard to lose weight.

Why do I need to lose weight?

You might need to lose weight if you’re above the healthy weight range. Doctors use a number called the body mass index (BMI) to calculate your ideal healthy weight. BMI compares your height and weight to give you a score. If your BMI is over 25, you’re overweight. If it’s over 30, you’re obese. A score of 40 or more indicates morbid obesity.

When you’re overweight or obese, you’re at risk of developing many health problems, including:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High cholesterol
• Type 2 diabetes
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Kidney disease
• Fatty liver disease
• Depression

The higher your BMI, the greater your risk. You probably struggle with physical activity, which makes the problem worse. You can also develop skin rashes, infections, osteoarthritis, and other disorders.

Medical weight loss helps you address these problems safely. It improves your overall health and reduces your risk of disease.

What does medical weight loss involve?

The first step in creating your personalized medical weight loss plan is a complete assessment. In addition to a physical exam, your provider takes blood for lab testing. They may do other procedures like an EKG (electrocardiogram) to check your heart function. If the exam and tests show any health problems, your provider can treat them.

Your medical weight loss plan uses diet and exercise as its main treatments. Losing weight requires burning more calories (units of energy) than you take in. A healthy, low-fat, low-carb diet provides you with the nutrition you need. Increased physical activity helps you burn the excess fat around your body.

You might benefit from medications like appetite suppressants if you’re having trouble controlling your portion sizes. Healing Head to Toe also offers a range of IV therapies that deliver essential nutrients straight into your bloodstream.

To find out how medical weight loss can work for you, call Healing Head to Toe or book an appointment online today.