What is medical weight loss?
Medical weight loss is not surgery or diet pills. It is a physician-directed weight management program based on medical scientific principles that target the root causes of obesity and weight gain to achieve and sustain a healthy weight in the long-term.
How medical weight loss differs from other programs:
The tools that medical weight loss physicians use to help you manage your weight are very different from what you find with commercial programs. First, medical weight loss doctors use your metabolism and body composition (mainly fat percentage) as true indicators of weight loss progress. Second, they can prescribe safe, low-calorie diets that are specifically designed to help you lose weight while breaking the cycle of food addiction. And should you choose, your doctor can also prescribe an appetite suppressant for you. Finally, medical weight loss doctors have the ability to view your weight loss and maintenance within the context of your total health profile. If you have a condition that requires medication that may be interfering with your weight loss efforts, your medical weight loss doctor can consult with your primary care physician to prescribe a safe, effective alternative to lift those barriers.
Here’s what you can expect on your first visit:
1. Your Medical History
Your visit starts with the doctor asking for your medical history, including any prescription or over-the-counter medication you may be taking. It’s very important for your doctor to understand your overall health when designing your personalized plan.
2. Body Composition Analysis (BCA)
The doctor will ask you to step on a special scale that will give you a total breakdown of the percentages of fat, muscle, and water in your body. Your resting metabolism and blood pressure will also be taken. This gives your doctor a baseline of where you’ll start your weight loss plan.
3. Consultation with the Doctor
Finally, your doctor will review your medical history and BCA results, and then will sit down to get to know you. This is the time to open up about your weight loss goals and challenges, and what you truly want to get out of a weight loss plan. In order for your doctor to design your personalized plan, he or she needs to get to know the whole you.
