The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that around 75% of Americans are obese or overweight. Besides killing hundreds of thousands of Americans annually, obesity also puts a substantial economic burden on the U.S. health sector. To help people struggling with weight issues, Synergy Wellness in Bakersfield, CA, has developed a medical weight loss program.
Is Medical Weight Loss Effective?
Obesity is a major health issue in the United States. Because of its huge impact on human life and the economy, the government and other stakeholders have started awareness campaigns to advocate for healthier lifestyles. However, despite this and other efforts, statistics show that the number of obese people has been rising steadily since 2013. Dietary changes and exercise only seem to work for certain people.
A vast majority are still struggling with weight issues, prompting some health experts to come up with a medical weight loss program that is more effective than traditional weight loss programs. Since health experts are well aware of the huge cost of obesity and have an in-depth knowledge of how the human body works, they have designed a safe and effective weight loss program that delivers the desired results.
Healthcare professionals have access to nutritional products and strategies that other commercial programs can only dream of. A medical weight loss team comprises a qualified physician and a highly dedicated staff. When you give a qualified and dedicated medical team access to trade secrets, you end up with a highly effective solution to the obesity problem.
Being Overweight and Obese: Causes and Risks
To understand why you should enroll in a medical weight loss program, you need to understand the risks associated with unhealthy weight. But before we look at the risks, let’s look at the causes of obesity.
Causes of Obesity
1. Poor Lifestyle Choices
The leading causes of obesity are unhealthy dietary choices and physical inactivity. When you continuously consume more food than your body needs, you end up gaining unhealthy weight. Only about 20% of jobs involve physical activity, making it difficult for many people to convert food into energy unless they exercise regularly.
2. Community Environment
Where you grow up and live has a significant influence on your behavior and life choices. For example, you may consider morning runs or cycling as the most suitable exercise for you, but when you are about to start, you notice that the place you live does not have safe bike trails or sidewalks. This means that your environment deters you from engaging in physical activities you might enjoy. Other community environmental factors that might contribute to obesity include childcare, home, healthcare, school, and the workplace.
3. Genetics
Some people are genetically predisposed to being overweight or obese. A study carried out in 2018 shows that people with the human gene APOA2 are more likely to have a higher BMI. Some people experience feelings of hunger even when they are full, prompting them to eat even when they shouldn’t. Some people are exposed to obesity even before they are born, especially if the mother was a smoker or overweight while pregnant. According to dietitians, you can tell a lot about a person’s feeding habits by reviewing their family history.
4. Diseases and Drugs
Some medical conditions, such as Cushing’s disease and polycystic ovary syndrome, can increase your risk of becoming overweight or obese. Additionally, some medications can expose you to obesity. People who use steroids and some antidepressants are likely to notice significant weight gain.
Risks Associated With Obesity
1. Heart Disease
Heart disease is a cover term for several conditions that interfere with normal functions of the heart. Most of these conditions cause the hardening and narrowing of the blood vessels, affecting the heart’s ability to pump blood properly. Heart disease causes other severe heart conditions, such as abnormal heart rhythm, chest pains, heart failure, heart attack, and cardiac death. Heart disease is caused by high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels: conditions that are associated with unhealthy weight.
2. Type 2 Diabetes
9 in 10 people who are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. Although the link between unhealthy weight and type 2 diabetes is not well understood, some medical experts believe unhealthy weight changes the structure and composition of the cells, making them resistant to the insulin hormone. Insulin is responsible for transporting sugar from the blood to the cells. The cells then convert sugar into energy. Overweight or obese people have a problem converting sugar into energy, leading to high blood sugar.
3. High Blood Pressure
As we have mentioned above, the heart’s main job is to pump blood throughout your body. The bigger you get, the harder your heart has to work to fulfill its primary function. The more the heart strains to pump blood, the more susceptible you are to high blood pressure. Additionally, since kidneys play an essential role in regulating blood pressure, excessive fat deposits prevent them from functioning properly, increasing your vulnerability to high blood pressure.
High blood pressure leads to other health conditions, such as stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. Unfortunately, high blood pressure has no symptoms.
4. Stroke
A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain cells is cut suddenly. Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke. It occurs when a blood clot in the arteries cuts suddenly interrupts the supply of blood to the brain. Hemorrhagic stroke is another common type of stroke that is caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain. Although high blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke, other conditions closely linked with unhealthy weight, such as high cholesterol levels, high blood sugar, and heart disease, increase your vulnerability to a stroke.
5. Cancer
Cancer is the second biggest killer in the United States. Cancer is caused by uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one part of the body. Since hormones from fat cells change the structure and composition of cells, people who are overweight or obese are more vulnerable to certain types of cancer. These include:
- Breast cancer
- Colon and rectum cancer
- Endometrium cancer
- Cancer of the kidney
- Cancer of the gallbladder
6. Fatty Liver Disease
Also referred to as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, fatty liver disease is a condition caused by excess fat deposits in the liver. When there is excess fat in the liver, you become more susceptible to liver failure, liver cirrhosis, and severe liver damage.
7. Sleep Apnea
People with sleep apnea stop momentarily breathing while they are asleep. One of the causes of sleep apnea is excess fat deposits around the neck. Fat deposits in the neck area also make it difficult to breathe, causing individuals to snore loudly.
8. Pregnancy Problems
People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop complications during pregnancy. Such difficulties often lead to long-term adverse effects on the health of the mother and the baby. Women who are overweight or obese during pregnancy are at higher risk of developing gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. They are also more likely to need C-section. Their babies are exposed to neural tube defects, stillbirth or being born too soon. As we have mentioned above, babies born to overweight or obese mothers are also likely to become overweight or obese later in life.
Benefits of a Medical Weight Loss Program
Customized Weight Loss Plan
Since everyone has different weight loss goals, a medical program avoids the one-size-fits-all approach. Once you enroll in a medical weight loss program, a team of professionals will ask you about your weight loss goals and formulate a weight loss plan that will help you achieve these goals. Your customized plan takes into account your medical history and your dietary and physical activity preferences. This information helps the team to design a plan that is not only effective but also fun.
Surgery Is Not Necessary
Some people associate a medical program with some form of surgery or invasive procedures. However, a medical weight loss program can be effective without any invasive procedures. This is not to say you cannot enjoy cosmetic procedures and treatments that complement the efforts achieved through dietary changes and regular exercise. For example, a physician might recommend lipo and laser body contouring to complement the gains you have made after adopting a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, lap band and gastric bypass surgery can help where non-surgical options fail.
Safe and Effective Exercise Techniques
Many people walk into a gym and start lifting, pulling, and stretching without taking precautionary measures to prevent injury. When you work out without consulting a professional, you expose yourself to injury. You are also unlikely to achieve your weight loss goals. In a medical program, professionals guide and supervise physical exercises to ensure the client’s safety. They also design work out routines that deliver optimum results while taking into consideration special conditions, such as fitness levels, chronic pain, and heart conditions.
Extra Help for Eating Disorders
It is challenging for most people to make and sustain the drastic lifestyle changes needed to lose weight. For those clients with eating disorders wishing to lose weight, medical programs connect them with a counselor. The counselor helps you to overcome temptations and cravings that prevent you from losing weight.
Help With Hunger and Cravings
Once you are in control of your eating habits, you receive safe and effective appetite suppressants to keep feelings of hunger away. You also get access to nutritional supplements to provide you with all your dietary needs without adding extra calories. Alternatively, you receive a protein and fiber-based dietary routine to keep you full throughout the day, avoiding the need to eat regularly.
Access to Prescription Medications if Needed
When in a medical weight loss program, you have access to safe prescriptions. Although you are unlikely to need prescription medication, it does not hurt to know you have a physician on your side who can prescribe some medications to compliment your weight loss efforts. However, you should always remember that prescription medications cannot replace a healthy diet and regular exercise as a solution against unhealthy weight.
Take Control
Obesity is the leading cause of death in the United States. It also has a significant impact on the economy of the country. On average, overweight people spend $1,429 more in medical expenses each year. An unhealthy weight also contributes to several life-threatening health complications. While traditional weight loss programs have been highly ineffective in the past, health experts have developed new techniques to help people struggling to lose weight. Take control of your life by shedding off unhealthy weight today. For an effective medical weight loss program, contact Synergy Wellness in Bakersfield, CA!
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