Is medical weight loss right for you?

Sep 18
14:36

2010

Andrea Avery

Andrea Avery

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While medical weight loss is not a new idea, it’s probably less well-known than the latest fad diet. For those who can’t seem to defeat the demons of dieting and weight issues, medical weight loss can help provide a new lease on life, provided the patient is ready to make a change.

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There’s no doubt about it; the battle of the bulge can be a difficult and persistent one,Is medical weight loss right for you? Articles and many Americans spend a majority of time on the losing side of the conflict. Studies estimate that within 5 years, nearly 80% of people in the United States---including children--- will be considered overweight or obese. For the very first time, the current generation of those under 20 years of age have a life expectancy that’s lower than that of their parents, a sad statistic that’s largely due to a fast-paced, unhealthy lifestyle. Everywhere you look, high-calorie meals packed with fat,sodium,and artificial ingredients are being advertised on one side of the street, while pills and miracle diets are peddled on the other. It is an understatement to say that today’s society has an unhealthy relationship with food and body image, and with each successive generation, Americans are paying the price.

For those that need a little extra help winning the battle of the bulge once and for all, medical weight loss is an ideal solution. Medical weight loss isn’t just a diet, it’s a recovery process for those with weight issues. Throughout the program, patients learn to approach food and diet with a healthy attitude, exchanging frustration with body image and yo-yo dieting for a more positive outlook on food, exercise, and self-perception. While undergoing treatment, clients address not only the extra pounds that plague them, but the physical, emotional, and mental causes of the weight gain. Illustrated in a real yet entertaining format, television shows like “The Biggest Loser” appeal to overweight discontented Americans in record numbers. The reason for the success of these shows is simple; the premise is dedicated to showing that average Americans are able to cultivate a healthier lifestyle, attitude, and appearance with proper guidance and medical advice. Seeing others take these difficult steps, with the support of doctors, trainers, nutritionists, and other people with similar goals, has inspired many people to learn more about medical weight loss.

Ideally, medical weight loss programs work in a manner similar to treatment centers for drugs, alcohol, and other addictions. Patients check in for an extended visit, and are immediately placed in an environment where the focus is solely on losing excess weight and becoming healthier. However, for those whose schedules do not allow inpatient treatment, outpatient courses of therapy are available. No diet or exercise plan is ever undertaken without the approval of a doctor, keeping your weight loss safe, healthy, and more likely to be successful in the long term.