You have tried cutting all the carbs and followed every trend. You tried different workouts. You workout more, eat less. But the scale? It sees no change.
Should you follow another diet? Or should you try medical weight loss? The answer lies in other factors worth considering, not the number on the scale.
While dieting can work well for some. Some can see improvement with a good diet and exercise. There are some people who don’t lose weight with all the effort. This could be due to some other health condition that needs attention.
Understanding the difference between dieting and medical weight loss is important. A diet is about cutting some foods and calories. You see some changes in your body. Medical weight loss works differently. It starts with doctor consultations and suggested tests. The doctor then goes through your reports and makes a treatment plan for your needs.
At Clinic Living Plus, we look at your health. We look through your last weight loss attempts and check for any nutritional gaps. Based on the test results, our doctor works on a medical weight loss plan that suits you.
How is Dieting and Medical Weight Loss Different?
Dieting is mainly changing what and how much you eat. In some cases it includes some exercises.
Medical weight loss is a little different. A doctor will talk to you, understand your symptoms, and ask for certain tests. Once the test results are out, based on these the doctor works on a treatment plan for you. These tests reveal if there is any health condition contributing to your weight gain.
Once that is diagnosed it helps them work on a treatment plan including, your diet, exercise, and medicine(if needed) for you. The regular follow ups help your doctor check your progress.
What Should You Choose: Medical Weight Loss or Dieting?
Imagine you followed a calorie-restricted diet for six months. You worked out every day. But the measuring scale showed no improvement. A strict diet along with vigorous exercise can leave you feeling tired. This may also affect your sleep.
A Strict diet may do more harm than good. It can be thyroid, poor gut health, or any autoimmune condition. This is what a medical assessment helps you find. After which your doctor can address any health condition that needs attention.
Tried Different Diets But Still Not Losing Weight
Losing weight and maintaining the reduced weight are two different things. When you drop weight, your metabolism changes. It also changes how much energy your body burns. Hence, following the same concept for the long term is not suitable.
A doctor-led weight loss programme checks your past weight loss attempts. It helps them identify nutrition gaps that need to be worked on.
Chronic Diseases
Some medicines can influence how you lose weight. This can make weight management difficult.
These are some examples of health conditions
- Hypothyroidism
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, also known as PCOS
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Sleep apnoea
- Hormonal Health
Your doctor may prescribe medicine if you have a certain health condition. These medicines can also cause weight gain. But it doesn’t make weight loss impossible. It only changes your weight loss treatment.
Weight Affects Your Health
The fat around your belly can cause some serious health issues. This can indicate high blood pressure, fatty liver or some chronic disease related to your health.
Medical supervision helps you manage these health issues. Your doctor can also guide you with a safe weight loss plan.
Your Medical History
At Clinic Living Plus, we start with a free one-hour exploratory call. Our Health Coach checks for symptoms. They also discuss your diet, sleep, stress, and daily habits.
Our Functional Medicine Doctor reviews the reports and your symptoms, and accordingly, work along with the team to create a personalised treatment for you.
Looking Beyond the Weighing Scale
Your weight does not tell everything. The diagnosis helps us understand what is happening inside your body. Based on the symptoms, our doctor will suggest certain tests, these can be:
- Blood Glucose and HbA1c- This helps check your blood sugar level and any risk of diabetes.
- Thyroid- It helps in understanding if an underactive thyroid is causing weight gain.
- Lipid profile- To keep a check on your cholesterol levels.
- Body composition- To understand the distribution of fat and mass in the body.
- Waist circumference to check abdominal fat
- Other relevant tests as per symptoms and medical history.
Note: Not everyone needs all these tests.
At Clinic Living Plus, we assess your symptoms and accordingly recommend tests. You don’t even have to go to a lab. We provide at-home sample collection via our nurse, nationwide.
Personalised Weight Loss Plan
Once the assessment is complete, our doctor, along with the team, reviews your reports. A Functional Medicine Doctor, Nutritionist, Physiotherapist, and a Personal Trainer work together on your medical weight loss plan. Based on nutrition and medical needs, a plan is created for you.
For some people, nutritional and lifestyle support is enough. Others may require a weight loss plan. This includes your diet, exercises, regular checkups, and any prescribed medicine.
At Clinic Living Plus, we understand no two individuals are the same. We assess your health to understand your concerns. Then we create a treatment plan based on your needs.
Does Medical Weight Loss Mean Taking GLP-1?
No. Medical weight loss and GLP-1 are different. GLP-1 Medicine helps regulate your appetite and supports weight loss. But this is not for everyone.
There are various factors the doctor checks before prescribing the medicine. Your BMI, waist size, and medical history are considered. Along with this, potential health risks, treatment, and preferences are also considered.
The eligibility criteria also vary across different clinics. If your doctor prescribes GLP-1 medication, you need a very healthy diet, regular exercise, and regular checkups to retain muscle mass.
Preserving lean mass during this treatment is important. Because when you are losing weight. It involves both your fat and muscle. Eating enough protein and doing strength training can help you maintain muscle. Even when your appetite drops.
At Clinic Living Plus, we offer a weekly dietary check. If needed, we also offer physiotherapy, personal training, and at-home nurse support.
We focus on more than weight loss. We help you maintain muscle through healthy eating and strength training. We also track the changes in your body during treatment.
Dieting or Medical Weight Loss?
The results depend on your health and body needs. A good balanced diet with good nutrition, with regular exercise. It also depends on how well you follow it.
A balanced diet, regular exercise, and lifestyle changes are important in both cases. Medical weight loss offers more treatment options for people who need it.
For some weight loss medicine with a proper diet and exercise plan helps. The regular follow ups also help the doctor check the progress by seeing fat loss and muscle retention.
Our goal is to improve your health and help you build healthy habits that last.
The Right Approach For Your Body
There is more to medical weight loss than taking medicine. Dieting is not only eating less. It is about eating the right food, and moving your body.
Both focus on healthy eating, regular exercise, and daily habits you can maintain. The only change is the medical tests and support required.
If you have gained weight due to lifestyle changes, a good protein-rich diet and exercise can help
If you are gaining weight due to a health issue, get it checked from your doctor. They can check and suggest a plan that suits your needs.
The right approach is not necessarily the intense one, or what everyone is following. It has to be around your health, steady and sustainable progress.
