Medical Weight Loss: What Is It and Why Does It Work?

While most patients will start to see numbers on the scale change within the first week to a month of a medical weight loss program, the timeline of the final results varies greatly depending on what the final goals are, how strenuous the program is, and how diligent the patient is about staying on track. It is very possible to see a vast improvement within a few weeks, but there are also many cases in which more time may be required in the program to fully achieve the desired results.

Medical weight loss programs are one of the most effective means of weight loss, providing the largest likelihood of success and sustainability of the results. It can be incredibly difficult to attain the desired results from weight loss on your own, and often the results are not sustainable due to fad dieting or unrealistic fitness goals. With medical weight loss programs, patients are able to create realistic goals and expectations with a medical professional who also works to make sure that the methods of weight loss are going to be safe and effective for the patient. As well, the provided support throughout the program from a team of experts genuinely makes all the difference on those tougher days or when results seem to plateau. All methods of weight loss are difficult, but with medical weight loss, you have professional advice and support with you the entire time and are far more likely to not only reach your goals but to have results that endure.

Diets used in medical weight loss programs are more focused on the caloric intake balanced with an exercise regimen, as the fastest way to lose weight is through a caloric deficit that is still able to provide you with the required endurance for regular physical activities. The exact diet and caloric intake that is measured are entirely dependent on your current weight, desired goal weight, and how many calories you burn on a daily basis. The diet will also consist of healthier, fresh foods and stray away from high-fat, high-sugar, unhealthy foods. The diet is just one portion of the medical weight loss program and should be properly balanced with the other components of the weight loss program to ensure the overall health and safety of the patient.

The common requirement for patients to qualify for a medical weight loss program is that they are considered obese with a BMI of 30 or higher. Exceptions can include those with a BMI of 27 or higher and an underlying health condition that is caused by being overweight. Some underlying health conditions that qualify include type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. A good candidate will have also found weight loss difficult to do without medical interventions, either that their last bit of weight to lose is proving to be quite stubborn (it is very common to experience a “plateau” at different intervals throughout a weight loss process) or due to their lifestyle or current physical capabilities interfering with commencing the process. If you have struggled to lose weight on your own and need to lose weight for medical reasons, speak to our devoted team here at Fresno Medical Center today to learn more about our medical weight loss program and if it would be a good fit for you. We proudly serve the areas of Fresno CA, Burness CA, Locans CA, Lone Star CA, Mayfair CA, Muscatel CA, Oleander CA, and West Park CA.