What to Expect From a Weight Loss Clinic
Many overweight people struggle to lose weight on their own. However, dieting alone can have negative health consequences and often fails to produce the desired results. If you’re serious about losing weight and committing to long-term lifestyle changes, a medical weight loss clinic may be your best option. The doctors and staff at these centers specialize in weight loss and can design a program that is right for you. A weight loss clinic provides a safe space where you can discuss your concerns with a trained physician. The clinic will help you establish goals and work with you to achieve them through diet, exercise and pharmacological interventions. They can also offer additional services, such as weight monitoring, behavioral therapy and educational materials. The clinic will typically offer weekly medical check-ins and access to body composition analysis.
Unlike traditional dieting programs, a doctor-supervised weight loss clinic will address the underlying causes of your overeating. For example, if you are overeating due to hormone imbalances or other physical issues, these can be treated by a specialist at the clinic. Your
doctor will be able to identify the specific hormones, neurotransmitters and vitamins/minerals that contribute to your healthy body weight. This will allow you to succeed where regular diet plans have failed.
In addition to treating underlying physical problems, your physician at the weight loss clinic will provide education about proper nutrition and exercise, which can improve your overall health. They will also provide a support network to encourage you throughout your journey. This will help you stick to your plan and avoid relapsing into unhealthy habits. You can expect to see results within 12 weeks of starting the program. During this time, your physician will monitor you closely for signs of success, such as improved blood sugar and inflammatory markers and reduced need for blood pressure medications. You will also be asked to weigh in every 8-12 weeks, and some clinics will even weigh you on a more frequent basis.The length of time you spend in a weight loss clinic will be determined by the amount of weight you want to lose, your personal goals and adherence to the meal plan. Some programs will be covered by insurance, while others are offered at a flat fee. Some add-ons, such as vitamin injections, can cost extra.
Once you’ve reached your target weight, you will enter the short-term maintenance phase of the program. In this stage, you will learn how to maintain your weight loss with a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise while slowly increasing the amount of calories you consume. You will also be given a prescription for appetite suppressants if necessary, and will continue to meet with your physician for weekly check-ins. This will ensure that you don’t regain the weight you lost after achieving your goal. Continuing to visit your physician in this way will also prevent you from cycling through periods of weight gain and loss, which is common for individuals who have attempted to lose and keep off excess weight.
