What to Expect
Your first consult visit will include a thorough assessment of your weight history to identify underlying risk factors, causes, as as your history of previous treatments to provide you with the best recommended treatment plan. All evidence-based treatment options will be reviewed, and includes reviewing lifestyle interventions, medications, and bariatric surgery if interested. The goal of your first visit is to review all your available treatment options, their benefits and drawbacks, and costs so you can make an informed decision about your treatment path. Your treatment path is personal, and the decision for treatment is always up to you. Alternatively, some patients prefer to use this visit for information gathering—to learn about their options further before deciding on treatment.
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Weight Loss Can Help you
Medical weight management is not about the lowering the number on the scale. It's about reducing the burden of excess weight driving other health conditions (e.g. Type 2 diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome symptoms, Knee osteoarthritis pain). We know that just a modest amount of weight loss (>5%) can lead to significant health improvements. Normalizing body weight to a “normal” BMI is not required. Diet culture has us duped us into believing that what’s important is the number of pounds we can lose in a week or a month. For example, “lose 2 pounds each week”, or “lose 30 lbs in 6 months”. Depending on someone starting weight, genetics, and biological factors, this can either be realistic or very unrealistic. Rather, it’s best to think in percent body weight loss and set goals that are achievable at 3, 6 and 12 months. A good goal for example is 5% body weight loss at 3 months. At six months, 10% body weight loss is realistic goal. At 12 months, 15% body weight loss is realistic. For someone who weighs 200 lb, this looks like 10 lb at 3 months, 20 lb at 6 months and 30 lb at 12 months.
How much Weight Loss do I Need?
What 5% Weight Loss Achieves
It takes just 5% body weight loss to see improvements cardiovascular risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
What 10% Weight Loss Achieves
Among patients with impaired glucose tolerance (risk for future diabetes), 10% body weight loss can eliminate the progression to Type 2 Diabetes altogether. Among patients with obstructive sleep apnea, 10% body weight loss will lead to a reduction in the number of times someone has low oxygen overnight. 10% weight loss can also improve symptoms and joint stress in osteoarthritis. Among patients with knee osteoarthritis, did you know that each pound of weight lost can result in a four-fold reduction in the load of weight exerted on the knee with each step?
What 15% Weight Loss Achieves
Among patients with Type 2 Diabetes, 15% body weight loss can produce diabetes remission without the need for medications. Among women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, 15% weight loss can lower androgen levels, improve ovulation, and increase insulin sensitivity. Bringing down inflammatory markers such as elevated C-reactive protein can be observed after 10% to 15% body weight.