Medical weight loss support has become a swift but quiet progression in recent years. However, it’s also an industry within the healthcare sector that has quickly picked up momentum in popularity.
A lot of healthcare institutes are struggling under the pressure of those who need healthcare services, whether it’s something as simple as high blood pressure to a heart attack or stroke.
The benefits of medical weight loss support are certainly beneficial not only to the patient but also to the healthcare system as a whole. Being able to save lives through these treatments and to reduce the risk of serious health complications with weight loss is worthwhile to many who take it.
Moving past fad diets and false promises
Fad diets are just short-lived, short-term results that don’t necessarily enable you to lose weight healthily. You’re also likely to be on foods or meal replacement alternatives that you wouldn’t be able to stick to in the long term.
Instead of fad diets and signing up for these programs that offer false promises and staggering weight loss results, it’s a good idea to focus on sustainable, balanced, and healthy lifestyle changes that are enjoyable.
Food is meant to be enjoyed, and restricting it, especially in such a severe way, is something that simply won’t work out in the long run.
Look at setting small and realistic goals when it comes to your eating habits. Change to more fruit and vegetables, stay hydrated, and listen to your body to nourish it as and when you can. It can also be helpful to introduce weight loss support through various forms that can aid your weight loss journey.
What today’s medical options really look like
You’ve got several options when it comes to tackling your weight loss goals. Whether you’re looking to lose a small amount of weight or you need to make a drastic change with your weight as it currently stands, here are some of today’s medical options that are worth exploring.
Mounjaro
Mounjaro is perhaps the most popular of the procedures currently existing on the medical weight loss market. A weekly injection that works to mimic another hormone (GIP) to further enhance the effects on your appetite and blood sugar.
Many of the patients on Mounjaro can expect to lose around 25% of their original body weight over the course of the treatment. There’s also no end date for Mounjaro, so like other medical weight loss injections and tablets, it’s a great way to lose weight successfully over a period of time to suit you.
Wegovy
A weekly injection that mimics a hormone to make you feel full for longer and reduce your appetite. Wegovy is very similar to Mounjaro, offering up to 15% weight loss based on original weight.
Many enjoy the fact that it’s only a weekly injection and that the injection itself is relatively pain-free, due to it being injected with an automatic firing trigger.
Saxenda
Saxenda is a daily injection that helps to reduce appetite and increase feelings of fullness. It’s perhaps not as effective as the two injections above, and while it might still be reasonably effective for patients, a daily injection might not be the most appealing option for some.
Orlistat
Daily oral tablets can be a good option for those who are looking for an alternative to injections. This works by preventing your body from absorbing about a third of the fat you eat. That undigested fat is then passed in your stool. This option is also a cheaper alternative for those on a restricted budget.
There are also several medical procedures you could have that would require surgery. These include:
- Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty – A less invasive procedure where a suturing device is inserted through the throat to reduce the stomach’s size.
- Bariatric surgery – Surgical procedures that reduce the size of the stomach to promote weight loss.
Choosing what’s right for your body and lifestyle
How do you choose what’s right for your body and lifestyle? Let’s take a look at how to choose what’s right for you.
Consult with your healthcare professional
First and foremost, you should consult with your healthcare professional and make sure you have the best advice possible from someone medically experienced in this field. A healthcare professional, like a doctor or registered dietitian, will be able to provide practical guidance on your medical history, personal preferences, and lifestyle.
Assess your individual needs and goals
With medical weight loss support, you can address your individual needs and goals. This is an important step to take because it will determine if weight loss drugs or other interventions are worthwhile for what you’re looking to achieve.
Discussing the potential risks and benefits with your healthcare professional will also find the best solution for you and your weight loss journey.
Choose a sustainable dietary plan
To lose weight effectively, you’ll want to look at a sustainable dietary plan, which means one that you can continue to utilise as you come off the weight loss medication.
Focus on balance and variety, making sure you include foods from all major groups like fruits, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and healthy fats. You’ll want to consider your own preferences and practice portion control to get enough food into your body, but at a deficit that will help you lose weight.
Integrate physical activity
Physical activity often goes hand in hand when it comes to medical weight loss. You need both healthy eating and regular exercise to make sure that you’re boosting your overall effort to lose weight or to maintain it over time.
Aim for around 150 minutes of moderate activity per week and break this down into shorter sessions where preferred. You’ll want to build long-term behavioural changes by monitoring your progress and managing your triggers, too.
Seek support and allow for flexibility using the 80:20 approach, which encourages you to focus on healthy choices 80% of the time, with flexibility on your intake 20% of the time to avoid becoming demotivated or burned out.
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