Medical Weight Loss
Functional Medicine Approach to Obesity and Weight loss
Functional Medicine takes a whole-person approach to obesity and weight loss. Many of us have struggled to lose weight and have felt frustrated with the many obstacles that can get in the way of weight loss. Whether it is stress, lifestyle, diet, or other medical conditions, functional medicine treats the underlying issues resulting in better overall health.
Treating Obesity First
Obesity should be prioritized for treatment because it increases the risk of more than 200 other health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, and thirteen distinct kinds of cancer. Additionally, obesity is associated with a shortened lifespan of about 7-8 years. We know that the pathophysiology that is occurring affects all cells in the body. The immune system, hormones, cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, gastrointestinal system, and neurological systems are all impacted by this one medical condition, so it makes sense to address it first. Treat obesity and often you improve the health of all those systems!
The Four Pillars
The four components of obesity medicine treatment are the following:
1. Nutrition- The quality and quantity of energy intake matters when it comes to obesity treatment.
2. Physical Activity- Energy expenditure also matters as does percentage of body fat and muscle.
3. Behavioral- So much of what we do day in and day out that make up our lifestyle are points of intervention in the treatment.
4. Medication- As a medical condition, sometimes changes to nutrition, activity and behavior are not enough and medications (like GLP-1 and GIP) can be helpful to gain traction in treating this condition.
It is important to address all four pillars in an obesity treatment program as the sum of all these interventions is greater than each individually. As a relapsing type of condition- for example, it is common for a person to gain and lose the same 20 lbs. Again, we need all these factors to support long-lasting treatment success. When we lose weight, the fat cells shrink but it does not go away. Our body has mechanisms for survival of drought and famine that biologically increase energy accumulation once those fat cells shrink. This is why sustainable weight loss is hard * but possible when we combine the four pillars of treatment.
References:
https://obesitymedicine.org/what-is-obesity
https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/prevalence-maps.html#overall
What conditions cause weight gain?
Common conditions associated with weight gain are stress, a buildup of toxins, insulin resistance, and genetic predispositions to obesity. The stress hormone cortisol can cause you to gain weight around the abdomen, and hormonal imbalances can make it difficult to combat weight gain, as well as lose weight. The buildup of toxins stored in our fat can also cause metabolic issues. A buildup of toxins can also be accompanied by insulin resistance, an imbalance of glucose levels in the blood. Genetic predispositions to certain metabolic disorders, diabetes, and obesity can also be the cause of weight gain and treating these conditions can not only result in weight loss but improve overall health.
Why can’t you lose weight?
An increase in body fat and weight loss resistance can be a sign of underlying medical conditions. Treating weight gain with a functional medicine approach ensures that the underlying causes of weight gain are treated as well! A large percentage of our population is overweight and obese, and since all of us have unique genetic predispositions, there is no one size fits all plan for weight loss. Exercise and dietary changes are not the only proper solution for weight loss for those with underlying medical conditions.
Using a functional medicine approach, we look at any hormonal, environmental, psychological and metabolic conditions that can be resulting in weight gain, and build a treatment plan around the cause – not the symptom.
Related Articles
Remission of Obesity and creating an off ramp
The goal of treatment for obesity in the functional medicine model is to achieve remission and improve the “mitigating factors.” The factors that add fuel to the fire and contribute to the chronic condition in the first place.
How We Use GLP-1 Matters
It is not the tool; it is how you use it. The class of obesity medications that focus on GLP-1 and GIP are powerful tools for weight loss. They are not panacea and not a guarantee of weight loss success. Even more importantly when it comes to health, weight is a poor biomarker of health and vitality.
Avoiding Pitfalls When Taking GLP-1 Agonists Such as Semaglutide
The latest buzz in the medical world is the use of GLP-1 agonists, specifically for weight loss. Why the hype?