Medical weight loss programs should not be confused with standard ones. When standard weight loss programs like eating healthy diets, exercising, etc., fail to offer the desired results, the importance of a medical weight loss program is established.
In simple terms, a medical weight loss program is supervised and monitored by medical professionals specializing primarily in weight loss. Apart from achieving weight loss, these professionals also help the patient control their cravings and eating habits.
Who Should Take Medical Weight Loss Program?
A medical weight loss program is ideal for those who have tried eating healthy diets and exercising regularly but still saw no reduction in their weight.
The primary reason for the difficulty in weight loss, even after trying everything, is highly dependent upon genetic or medical conditions.
These make weight management difficult. Some patients suffering from diabetes and other chronic conditions can also consider taking up the medical weight loss program.
The medical weight loss program consists of different strategies. One among them is weight loss surgery. There are age restrictions to be eligible for this. Only patients between the age of 18 to 65 can qualify to undergo weight loss surgery.
People suffering from serious health conditions are not eligible for this particular program. Moreover, smokers are also not an ideal fit for weight loss surgery.
Other conditions hindering medical weight loss programs include kidney stones, blood clots, heart problems, and autoimmune diseases. This is because a body constantly fighting and surviving these diseases is too weak and frail to undergo additional surgery.
What is Included in the Medical Weight Loss Program?
This is a weight loss process where the Medical Weight Loss Center offers assistance and guidance from experienced and certified professionals.
The doctor creates a realistic and well-formulated plan based on the patient’s condition. This plan is aimed at fulfilling the patient’s goal of reducing weight. The important steps involved in the medical weight loss program are:
- Medical Doctor Examination
The very first step is the initial consultation. This is a phase where the doctors learn and understand the problem and goal of the patient.
The discussion will revolve around the individual’s idea of ideal weight. Accordingly, the doctor will design a plan that will help the patient achieve their weight loss goal. The plan will also lay focus on the lifestyle.
- Nutrition and Lifestyle Counseling
Even after losing weight, it is important to eat healthily and exercise regularly to avoid any future risk of weight gain. The doctor, therefore, designs plans that also focus on nutrition and lifestyle.
The doctor will create a diet chart that includes food with low calories. There are different types of diets for weight loss, such as protein diets, low carbohydrate diets, and intermittent fasting. The doctor will suggest the diet that best suits your body type.
There is no doubt to the fact that exercise is the traditional way of losing weight. It helps the body burn energy that is stored in the form of unhealthy fat. The doctor recommends a number of exercises that fit the patient’s lifestyle.
- Lipo-B12 injections
Lipo-B12 injections are commonly used fat-burning injections. They are used to target deposits of fat. These fats are then released from the body, helping in weight loss.
Along with vitamin B12, these injections also have methionine. This amino acid helps the body process fat through the liver.
Alongside these, the injection also has inositol and choline. The former, a type of sugar found in the human body, works towards reducing blood cholesterol and helps in improving the metabolic process.
The latter is a nutrient that assists the liver in processing waste. Choline also ensures that cholesterol does not get deposited in any one location.
- Fat Approved Medications
The major component of medical weight programs is weight loss medications. The doctor prescribes these in accordance with the weight loss diet and exercises. These medications help in burning extra energy.
The doctor will constantly monitor the intake and the effect these medications have on the body. Thanks to technological advancements, patients can also monitor their weight loss journey on their devices. However, it is important to strictly follow the prescription assigned by the doctor.
Types of Medical Weight Loss Surgery
Medical weight loss surgery is the main part of the medical weight loss program. The different types of medical weight loss surgery are:
- Restrictive Surgeries
Restrictive surgeries involve shrinking and constricting the size of the stomach. This also contributes to slowing down the digestion process. Normally a stomach can hold up to 3 pints of food.
Right after the surgery, the stomach of the patient will be able to hold only as little as an ounce. After some time to surgery, the stomach will be able to stretch and hold up to as little as an ounce. This still will remain lesser than what a normal stomach can hold.
The motive behind the surgery is that the smaller the stomach, the less the person will want to eat. This will help in reducing weight efficiently. Some restrictive weight loss surgeries include sleeve gastrectomy, adjustable gastric banding, etc.
- Malabsorptive Surgery
Malabsorptive surgeries are aimed at changing how the patient takes in food. Just like restrictive surgeries, the size of the stomach is also reduced.
However, the doctor removes the bypass part of your digestive tract in this method. This is done to make it harder for the body to absorb calories. The biliopancreatic diversion is an example of malabsorptive surgery.
- Gastric Pacemaker
This is the most modern medical weight loss method that implants an electrical device to interrupt nerve signals between the stomach and the brain. This helps control the appetite by inducing a feeling of fullness in the patient.
This method does not involve altering the stomach and intestines through gastric bypass surgery. This is a method where a gastric pacemaker is implanted laparoscopically by a professional bariatric surgeon.
Conclusion
Many people become impatient about losing weight. If one can lose weight through diet and exercise, it is not a good choice to go for medical weight loss programs.
However, if these options have proved unfruitful, then medical weight loss programs can help achieve the desired results. It is important to ensure that you receive professional, individualized care and assistance.
