Losing weight is never easy. However, it’s more difficult for some people. Even the efforts to lose weight, such as keeping your meals under control, taking up regular exercise, and increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables, may not work.
Due to the individual approach, medical weight loss might be even more beneficial than the general weight loss process. It is even more imperative in issues connected with obesity or some other kind of complications.
Nonetheless, it is important to understand how to determine if medical weight loss is right for you. In this article, you will learn about the most important aspects to address so that you can decide whether or not to go in this medical direction.
An Insight Into How to Begin a Medical Weight Loss Journey
Medical Weight Loss is not synonymous with the traditional weight loss programs that are offered in the market. It entails assessment of physical status, behaviors, and readiness, and likely compliance with recommended change patterns.
This program usually encompasses a host of items including, amongst others, prescription drugs, exclusive diets, or even surgeries as richly guided by the health care providers.
This process most often starts with a visit to a healthcare professional or a specialist in weight loss, who evaluates the patient’s health, her/his habits, and personal goals.
Factors To Determine If You Are a Good Candidate for Medical Weight Loss
The following are 7 core indicators that would help you decide if you are fit to undertake medical weight loss or not.
Body Mass Index Above 30
A BMI of 30 or above is one of the main signs that medical weight loss is right for you. BMI is a widely used indicator of body fat calculated through height and weight; a person receiving a BMI of over 30 is considered obese.
Obesity increases the chances of suffering from severe conditions such as diabetes, heart illnesses, and sleep disorders, and therefore, availing ourselves of medical weight loss is advisable.
BMI is one of the most common criteria for selecting clients in weight loss management programs to identify those most at risk of obesity. If your BMI is in this category, it is advisable to be under a medical weight loss program that offers a more ordered process.
Obesity-Related Health Conditions
Some diseases associated with obesity include type II diabetes, failing or enlarged heart, sleep apnoea, stroke, gall bladder disease, fatty liver disease, gout, some cancers, pregnancy complications, and osteoarthritis.
Medical weight loss also helps if you have any of the conditions or if you are likely to get them based on your weight.
Individuals suffering from these diseases often have their particular requirements to lose weight to help minimize or potentially reverse the disease through safe and sustainable weight loss strategies.
Family History of Obesity
Genetics can highly influence your predisposition to obesity. Losing weight by regular exercise and dieting alone can be hard if one has a family history of obesity or obesity-related diseases.
Your DNA determines whether or not your body stores fat in strategic spots, how your body handles the food you take, and how it controls metabolism rates.
Medical weight loss could present more effective solutions to the problems highlighted above as ways inherent in the process.
Medications with a doctor’s prescription or hormone replacement therapy may be given to put an end to genetic tendencies that make it difficult for one to lose weight.
Difficulty Losing Weight Through Traditional Methods
Medical weight loss is for people with a lot of weight to lose who have not seen success when following more traditional weight loss techniques such as diet, exercise, and changes in behavior.
Many a time, most of the clients experience stagnation – or worse, they gain back several pounds – after having lost a few.
As mentioned, medical weight loss programs are intended for losing weight because the causes are metabolic disorders, hormonal imbalances, or other behaviors that are difficult to change.
Subject to your physician’s approval, there are specialized treatments like drugs to handle your appetite or dietary and counseling services that are aimed at handling these issues head-on and overcoming hurdles to losing weight.
Age and Overall Health Status
Age and general health are also contributing factors to seeking medical weight loss. One of the biggest challenges of weight loss is that it gets more challenging by the day as one ages due to changes in metabolism and muscle mass.
These are some of the age-related factors that hinder effective weight loss and wellness management, and medical weight loss can offer to help address better therapies that are age-expected, clinical, and individualized.
Also, medical weight loss can be prescribed to people whose weight contributes to or complicates other diseases, with no regard for the patient’s age.
If you have other health issues and weight is becoming a factor in these issues, you must take advantage of a more disciplined and clinical approach towards weight loss.
Behavioral Factors
Your behavior and the way you interact with food are also considered. Unlike standard weight loss programs, medical weight loss programs also have a psychological aspect to them to ensure that the patient alters certain behaviors that cause them to gain weight.
Anyone who is currently on a diet or who experienced weight regain after losing weight or thought about going on a diet but felt that it is too difficult may benefit from this approach.
In medical weight loss programs, dietary counseling, as well as other behavior modification strategies, are considered to be major components.
Commitment to a Long Term Plan
Lastly, medical weight loss demands intensive personal commitment. It is not a short-term cure but a long-term program that requires changes in behavior, periodic monitoring, and, at times, complementary medicines or treatments.
You will need to adhere to all recommendations provided in the program, as well as coordinate with healthcare practitioners to meet your weight loss objectives.
They are ideal for those who have a strong desire and determination to attain permanent control of their health through proper weight control.
Final Thoughts
Losing weight medically is an effective strategy that can help patients suffering from obesity and other diseases associated with excessive weight. If you fall within the above criteria, then you might be appropriate for this medically supervised means.
