Weight Management
What is Medical Weight Management?
What is Medical Weight Management? Let’s start with what it is not. Medical Weight Management is not surgery or a 30 second appointment where you are weighed, have your blood pressure checked and then receive a prescription for diet pills. It is physician-directed weight management 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 specialists use to help you
manage your weight are very different from what you find
with commercial programs.
1) Your Med Clinics medical provider uses your metabolism and body composition (calculated body fat) as true indicators of weight loss progress.
2) Your Med Clinics medical provider can prescribe safe, low-calorie diets specifically designed to help you lose weight while breaking the cycle of food addiction.
3) You may also receive a recommendation for HCG or a prescription anorexiant (appetite suppressant) as a part of your program.
4) Lastly, we view your weight loss and maintenance within the context of your total health profile. If you have a medical condition that is interfering with your weight loss efforts or have a medical condition that requires a medication that may be interfering with your weight loss efforts, your Med Clinics medical provider can consult with your primary care physician to design a treatment strategy that both maintains your overall health and effectively addresses your weight concern.
What Diet Programs are Available From Your Med Clinics Medical Provider?
Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD)
The VLCD is our most aggressive diet. It is a 600 calorie diet. It usually consists of 4 protein supplements and one dinner. The diet typically runs for 16-20 weeks and patients on this diet have an average weight loss of 2-4 pounds a week. It is appropriate for patients that need to lose 30 pounds or more.
The VLCD protocol is medically safe and suitable for most patients, including persons with medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac conditions, gastrointestinal problems, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, etc. This diet is characterized by optimum protein intake and very low carbohydrate and fat intake. This results in a fairly constant blood sugar in the low normal range throughout the day, which effectively eliminates any hunger!
Low Calorie Diet (LCD)
The LCD is less aggressive (850 – 1,100 calories) and is usually recommended for patients that only need to lose 30 or less pounds. This diet is individually prescribed for each patient so that protein intake is at an optimum and carbohydrate and fat intake are balanced with the protein. Average weight loss is about 1- 3 pounds weekly.
Maintenance Diet
Once ideal bodyweight is reached a slow transition is made to a maintenance diet. Successful maintenance of weight loss typically requires several elements:
- Maintaining a healthy balanced eating style with a more natural balance of protein, carbohydrates and fat with mostly low glycemic carbohydrates.
- Continuing to exercise (should be exercising enough to be physically fit).
- Maintaining an ongoing relationship with a health professional trained and experienced in bariatric medicine (weight loss and weight maintenance medicine).
- Continuing an optimum intake of vitamins and mineral supplements and, in many cases, periodic prescription of weight control medications.
Appetite suppressants
We believe in utilizing every available medical tool to assist you in your weight loss and maintenance efforts. For many patients, prescription appetite suppressants and other weight control medications such as HCG are added when medically appropriate.
What to Expect
Program length for most Med Clinics weight management patients is 6-12 months, depending on the individual and the amount of weight to be lost.
Initial Consultation
- Through bariatric history and physical examination
- Comprehensive laboratory testing
- BMI and body composition analysis
- Selection of appropriate weight loss program
- Start an exercise program
Follow-up Consultations
- Weight check
- Physical examination
- Laboratory examinations as needed
- Nutritional counseling
- Behavioral modification
- Consultation with your Med Clinics medical provider to assess progress