When Should You Consider Medical Weight Loss?

Losing weight is not only a major preoccupation in the United States, but it’s also big business. In fact, the U.S. weight loss market is an estimated $71 billion industry. You’d think with the plethora of diet programs and information being pushed, we’d be the fittest country in the world.

Unfortunately, the opposite is true. The United States tops the chart when it comes to obesity rates among high-income countries. And to add insult to injury, since the start of the pandemic, 42% of Americans packed on an average 29 pounds.

With Americans seemingly losing the battle of the bulge, should they simply throw in the towel and accept defeat? Absolutely not, says Alex Tse, MD, an obesity medicine specialist and founder of the Healthy Longevity Program here at Generations Family Practice. So what’s the answer? For many, it’s medical weight loss.

What is medical weight loss?

Losing weight and keeping it off in the long term is all about transforming your approach to eating and exercise. Each person’s journey is unique and requires different tactics that tap into each individual’s lifestyle and body chemistry.

Medical weight loss programs aren’t based on a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, your provider creates a patient-focused, physician-directed strategy. A medical weight loss program accounts for many factors, such as the following:

• Exercise needs
• Nutritional needs
• Sleep health
• Emotional issues, such as anxiety or depression
• Medical conditions, such as diabetes or thyroid imbalances

This list is by no means extensive. This is just an example of what an individualized medical weight loss program could include. All of these factors, as well as others, could affect how well you can lose weight and keep it off.

Why do mass-market diets fail?

If you’re among the estimated 45 million Americans who go on a diet each year, you’re all too aware of the pitfalls of the typical weight loss program. Many trendy diets are all about calorie restrictions, which basically trick the body into thinking that it’s on the verge of starvation.

But when you’ve lost some weight and try to reintroduce additional calories, your body goes into survival mode and stores fat. Not helpful. 

The inconvenient truth is weight loss isn’t a simple one-issue problem for most people, which is why more than half of the lost weight is typically regained within two years, and more than 80% of lost weight is gained within five years. The good news is that a medical weight loss program can give you lots of help to reach — and maintain — a healthy weight.

When should you consider medical weight loss?

The short answer to this question is this: If you want to lose weight and keep it off, a medical weight loss program is your best bet. As we explained earlier, the difference between a medical weight loss program and a mass market diet is that a medical program is tailored to you and your needs. And a program tailored to you will give you the best chance of succeeding.

Another important factor to keep in mind is not what can help you drop pounds in the quickest time possible so you can look trimmer faster. Because losing weight isn’t just about aesthetics. 

It’s also about achieving a healthy weight so you can help stave off potentially life threatening conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, and stroke.

With medical weight loss, you can steadily lose weight and develop healthy habits to help you keep it off. Remember, it’s not just about losing the weight, but it’s also about knowing how to keep it from returning.

Get personal support on your journey

Another great plus of medical weight loss is that you don’t have to go it alone. If you’ve tried the do-it-yourself approach to weight loss, you know the journey can be a lonely one. But this isn’t the case with a medical weight loss program.

With a medical weight loss program, you get personalized support from the first day. We not only create a customized plan, but we help you follow it. We monitor your progress, make tweaks when necessary, and give you guidance, support, and encouragement along the way.

If you’re overweight or obese and want to learn if medical weight loss can help you, book an appointment online or over the phone with Generations Family Practice today.