One of the most effective ways to lose weight is through a medical weight loss program that is supervised by a medical professional. A medical weight loss program will typically include a recommended diet that encourages the patient to consume fewer calories than they are expending daily, as well as a recommended exercise regimen to further support the burning of excess stored fat. Maintaining this new calorie-deficient diet while continuing to exercise can often be the trickiest part of losing weight but is incredibly important to efficiently shed those excess pounds, so many physicians will also prescribe a weight loss medication. There are a few different types of medication that may be prescribed, all of which work fairly similarly by decreasing appetite, making following a calorie-deficient diet much easier, and providing increased energy levels resulting in increased motivation to continue with the exercise regimen.

Weight can be fairly reflective of one’s health, with any extremes in weight directly affecting an individual’s weight. Becoming overweight or obese drastically increases the risk of developing several life-threatening health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Just carrying excess weight puts a significant amount of strain on the joints, muscles, and bones, often leading to an increased risk of becoming injured or increased difficulty and pain with normal bodily functioning. Being overweight or obese can also cause complex changes in the metabolism and hormone levels, leading to further potential health problems that could be life-long or life-threatening. Some specific health conditions for which those who are overweight or obese will likely become at an increased risk include:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol levels
• Coronary heart disease
• Gallbladder disease
• Sleep apnea
• Stroke
• Osteoarthritis
• Mental health conditions including anxiety and depression

Several factors can affect an individual’s weight, with lifestyle, genetics, and health conditions all being fairly influential factors. Health conditions that commonly affect the patient’s weight include some endocrine diseases (such as hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, and polycystic ovary syndrome), mental health conditions including depression, and long-term stress. Some medications are prescribed to treat several health conditions that have been shown to lead to weight gain by affecting the energy levels of the patient, causing an increase in appetite, or slowing down the body’s ability to burn calories. Genetics plays a role in weight management as well as it can affect how an individual carries and stores excess fat in their body. Some lifestyle habits will affect weight, including how much sleep the individual can get regularly if they consume a high quantity of foods or beverages that are high in fat, sugar, and calories, and the amount of exercise that the individual engages in regularly.

Significant and fast-occurring changes in weight can be indicative of a health condition that requires medical attention and should be taken very seriously. If a weight change is being caused by a health condition, the fluctuations in weight will likely have no obvious explanations (i.e. changes in diet or activity levels) and can occur quite rapidly.

Studies have shown that to have a healthy and sustainable weight loss, patients should aim to lose around 1 to 2 pounds weekly, translating to 4 to 8 pounds every month until they have achieved their final goal weight. This average weight loss will vary a bit from person to person depending on whether they have any underlying health conditions as well as their starting body fat percentage. The amount of weight that a patient can lose per month will also heavily depend on their ability to closely follow the recommended diet and exercise regimen, as well as if their medical weight loss program includes a prescribed weight loss medication.

If you’ve prepared yourself to lose weight and want to know if you’re a good candidate for our medical weight loss program, then get in touch with our clinic to start living a better, more energetic lifestyle. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Parrish FL, Bradenton FL, Lithia FL, Sarasota FL, Lehigh Acres FL, Estero FL, West Bradenton FL, Port Charlotte FL, and Ellenton FL. We serve patients from Parrish FL, Bradenton FL, Sarasota FL, Lithia FL, Lehigh Acres FL, Estero FL, Ellenton FL, Palmetto FL, Lakewood Ranch FL, Foxleigh FL, Venice FL, Fruitville FL, Wimauma FL, Balm FL, Fort Myers FL, Westminster FL, El Dorado Acres FL, Cascades FL, West Samoset FL, Memphis FL, Harbour Heights FL, Murdock FL, and surrounding cities.