Weight loss isn’t always as easy as eating less and moving more. There are times when your diet and exercise don’t yield the results you want. This is where medically assisted weight loss comes in. It can be effectivewith a specialist who understands your body, health conditions, and desired outcomes.
However, you need to know some things before jumping into it.
Medically assisted weight loss is not cheating
One of the major concerns people have when they find themselves turning to medical help is that they have failed. That is not so. There are far more factors than willpower that affect weight management, including your:
- Genes.
- Hormones.
- Metabolism.
- Stress levels.
- Sleep patterns.
Medically assisted weight loss is just there to provide you with additional help and specific resources. It ensures that your body starts reacting differently to what it did before. Think of it not as cheating, but rather as helping yourself have the best odds to succeed.
It begins with a detailed health analysis
By opting in to a medically assisted program, your healthcare is the initial engagement, not a prescription. Doctors or specialists for medically assisted weight loss Indianapolis tend to examine:
- Your past health history.
- Current medications.
- Bloodwor This checks factors such as thyroid, blood sugar, or cholesterol.
- Lifestyle issues. This might include your diet, stress, and sleep patterns.
Weight loss is not just about weight. It is also about your overall health picture. To bring this into perspective, an imbalance in your thyroid levels could be the reason why your weight is not coming down despite your exercise habits. Proper diagnosis is important for developing the right plan.
You have choices, not just medication
Upon hearing the term medically assisted weight loss, it is natural to assume that it is either a pill or an injection. Although medications are one of the options, they are not the only ones. Your provider may recommend:
- Prescription weight-loss drugs: These may regulate appetite, metabolism, or hormone balance.
- Nutritional counseling: This is important to develop your body-specific plan rather than a standardised diet.
- Behavioral support: This includes coaching to develop sustainable habits.
- Meal replacements or supplements: These are important to provide structure.
- Surgery (in some cases): This might be necessary when other treatments fail to yield results.Gastric sleeve or bypass surgeries are common examples.
Your plan will most probably be an all-round strategy. In most cases, long-term weight loss is never about only one aspect.
Medication is not enough
Prescription weight-loss medication can be quite effective. This is particularly true for newer formulations that target appetite and satiety-related hormones. However, they do not substitute lifestyle changes.
In case you are thinking about taking medication, here is what you should know:
- They are most effective when used with diet and exercise.
- The results differ: Some people respond better than others
- Side effects may occur, and your doctor will monitor you closely.
- They are generally a longer-term solution. Not a one-month solution.
Weight loss medications can provide a great boost. However, they are certainly not a replacement for healthier options. They just supplement them.
Expect supervision and check-ins
As opposed to self-initiated fad diets, medically-assisted weight loss not only does not leave you alone. It includes a team providing assistance. You will normally have check-ups periodically to check on your progress, revise your plan, and ensure that you stay healthy.
These check-ups will monitor:
- The scale
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol level
- Energy levels, and so on.
This is to ensure that what you are doing is not only effective, but safe as well.
It is not always about the weight
The best thing about medically guided programs is that you tend to notice improvement beyond numbers. You will possibly discover the following changes:
- Increased energy during the day.
- Better sleep.
- Reduced cravings.
- Reduced joint pain.
- Improved confidence.
Losing weight is also about health. These non-scale wins may be equally or moreimportant than the weight you’ve lost.
Consider the expenses and commitment
Medicated weight loss could be an investment. Certain insurance plans cover some of it, or not at all. But it depends on whether your weight is causing your health to suffer. Medications, lab work, and appointments could be subject to out-of-pocket fees.
Besides money, it is also devotion of time and effort. You will need to have that willingness to:
- Attend check-ins
- Apply lifestyle changes
- Go on with the program long enough to see the results.
Consider your suitability
Last but not least, medically assisted weight loss can not suit everyone. You are a good candidate when:
- You’ve attempted to lose weight through diet and exercise, but have failed.
- You have health problems caused by being overweight. This could be diabetes, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea.
- You are ready to implement long-term lifestyle modifications.
You may not be able to use it when you are:
- Pregnant
- Breastfeeding
- When the medications are unsafe due to some reasons related to your health.
The initial medical assessment is important to ensure the plan suits you.
