Roughly one out of every four Americans are overweight or obese, according to the CDC, which means millions of people have an increased risk of serious medical problems like heart disease, stroke, hypertension, certain cancers, arthritis, and diabetes.
Fast-paced lifestyles, busy schedules, poor food choices, chronic stress, and underlying medical issues can all contribute to weight problems, making it a lot harder to lose those extra pounds, too. There are many diet plans out there, but unfortunately, many fail to offer long-term results.
With locations in Frederick and Clarksburg, Maryland, Primary Care Associates offers custom weight-loss plans tailored to each person’s unique weight-loss challenges, needs, and lifestyles for optimal results. Here’s what our team wants you to know about medical weight loss and how it can help you lose those pounds and keep them off.
Plenty of commercial diets claim they can help you lose weight, but these diets have one big flaw: They’re based on general principles of weight loss that don’t work for everyone.
That’s because many personal factors influence weight loss, and unless those factors are addressed, you won’t lose weight — or you’ll lose a few pounds and wind up gaining them back.
For instance, many people gain weight and struggle to lose it because they have nutritional deficiencies that drive food cravings and binge eating. Other people have hormone imbalances that make them feel hungry nearly all the time. Unless those issues are addressed first, weight loss will be much harder — even impossible — to achieve.
It’s impossible for commercial diets to take into account all the individual factors that can influence weight loss — but that’s where medical weight loss plans shine. While commercial diets use a “generalized” approach, medical weight loss is personalized right from the start.
Our team begins every weight management plan with a comprehensive medical exam and a review of each patient’s medical history, lifestyle, and previous weight-loss efforts. Most of our patients have blood tests or other lab work to identify or rule out underlying medical issues and nutritional deficiencies that could be driving weight gain or interfering with weight loss.
Then, your provider will work with you to develop an individualized weight loss plan focused on your unique needs and goals. Depending on your specific needs, your plan might include the following:
In addition, every plan includes medical supervision to help you stay healthy and motivational coaching to keep you focused and on track with your plan and goals.
Throughout your weight-loss journey, you’ll meet with your provider to evaluate your progress and adjust your plan as needed. We may recommend additional health screenings if you’re at risk for complications associated with being overweight, like blood pressure screenings, cholesterol measurements, or heart evaluations.
A new year is an excellent time for a fresh start. If losing weight is on your list of resolutions, a custom weight management plan can help you achieve your goals and improve your health and wellness. To learn how we can help, book an appointment online or over the phone with Primary Care Associates today.
