Learn Why Medically Supervised Weight Loss Plans Are More Successful

You’ve tried one fad diet after another, only to gain all the weight back and then some. You’ve tried exercise regimens, only to have them fall by the wayside. You’ve even tried a more nutritious diet with an exercise program, but you never achieved the results you wanted.

Sound familiar? Most people trying to lose weight get caught in a sort of limbo between what initially seems promising but ends with unsatisfying results. The best answer? Get involved in a medically supervised weight loss program, such as the one offered by Dr. Jaime Dodge at Aletheia Integrative in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Our weight loss program contains a combination of nutrition education, health coaching, and prescription medication, as well as the all-important accountability factor. Here’s what our team has to say about why these programs are so successful.

The problem of overweight and obesity

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that overweight and obesity represent serious health problems in the United States, affecting about 69% of the adult population. Having a healthier lifestyle and lower body weight can increase your energy and overall welfare, as well as reduce the risk of developing a number of serious diseases.

However, in the high-paced and high-stress society we live in, where fast food is a staple and usually eaten on the run, and exercise gets pushed aside due to chronic fatigue, losing weight isn't always easy, and many people attempt and fail to lose weight on their own.

Now, though, medically supervised weight loss programs give patients the tools they need to reach and maintain their ideal weight. Weight is viewed as a multifaceted medical issue, not a failure of willpower. With these tools and new perception, it can help you maintain a healthier lifestyle and improve your quality of life.

Quality of life includes decreasing the risk of obesity-related diseases such as coronary heart disease (CAD), high blood pressure (hypertension), stroke, Type 2 diabetes, abnormal blood fats, metabolic syndrome, cancer, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, reproductive issues, and/or gallstones.

Why you see success with medically supervised weight loss

Probably the biggest reason you see better results with a medical weight loss program is the accountability factor, which we call health coaching.

Health coaching involves working with a medical professional to set specific health goals and then take the necessary steps to achieve them. It provides you with an accountability partner to help you stay on track when, alone, you’d be more likely to derail. The coach provides a structured system with simple instructions to make it easy to follow the plan.

Regular checkups

Regular checkups are essential, and that’s the way your coach at Aletheia Integrative monitors your progress over time. At each visit, we weigh you and discuss your progress toward your goals. The coach makes any adjustments necessary to your treatment plan to help keep you on track and help you reach your ideal weight.

Nutrition education

Nutrition education is another key element of the program. A diet full of high-calorie foods with sugar, saturated fat, and salt may be easy to obtain and provide a quick burst of energy, but ultimately it causes you to “crash” afterwards, as well as gain weight quickly and put you at risk for many chronic diseases.

We recommend nutrient-dense, balanced meals and snacks. You should focus on plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats (e.g., avocado oil and omega-3 fatty acids), and lean proteins. These foods fill you up and help regulate your bodily systems effectively.

Exercise guidance

A third component is exercise guidance. You need physical activity in addition to a healthy diet to shed pounds and keep them off. Our team makes recommendations that align with your fitness level, interests, and abilities. A good place to start is low-impact exercise like walking, cycling, or swimming.

Prescription medication

Finally, we can offer prescription medication to complement your lifestyle changes. Some medications suppress appetite, while others increase your metabolic rate, helping you burn more calories.

The hot new medications on the market are the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, FDA-approved medications that are repurposed diabetes drugs. They mimic the action of a hormone naturally produced in the body that helps regulate insulin and allows your body to convert sugar into usable energy.

GLP-1 agonists also block glucagon secretion, which raises blood sugar levels, slows stomach emptying so your body releases less glucose into your bloodstream, and affects brain areas that process hunger and satiety responses.

If you’re tired of yo-yoing with your weight and never seeming to reach your goals, the medically supervised weight loss program at Aletheia Integrative can help. Give our office a call at 531-333-2037 to set up a consultation, or book online with us today.