What is medical weight loss?

So, what is medical weight loss? Before discussing what it is, it probably makes sense to start with what it is not. Medical weight loss is not surgery or 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 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.

Who Can Medical Weight Loss Benefit?

Medical weight loss is designed to help any individual with his or her specific weight loss goals, whether to lose 100 pounds or those last stubborn ten pounds. Everyone is different when it comes to weight loss, but medical weight loss can be used to treat everyone.