As I have discussed in previous posts, obesity and poor metabolic health is without question one of the most important disease states that we face in the United States. This condition is responsible for an increased risks of diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and dementia. It is often the factor which prevent us from staying active and being able to do physical activities as we get older because of issues like fatigue, shortness of breath, or debilitating arthritis. It is also the disease state that increases the number of prescription medications we take in order to keep other medical issues in check. Unfortunately, with our SAD (Standard American Diet), increased daily stress, lack of sleep, and more sedentary lifestyle, tackling this problem and making long-term changes can be difficult. So what options are available and what exactly is a medical weight loss program?
In addition to normal preventative care, disease management, care of acute medical issues, a strong cornerstone of what we will do at Ultra Wellness Medical will be to focus on meaningful treatment options for our patients and outside individuals wishing to consult with us in their journey of lifestyle change and ultimately weight loss. There is no single magic bullet, pill, or treatment that is available to cause meaningful and long-lasting weight loss. However, using a multimodal approach, long-term changes can take place. This entire process involves hard work and dedication on the part of the patient, access to good nutritional information, support and accountability on the part of physicians and medical staff, and novel use of safe and effective prescription medications which are available. In addition, we will use nutritional supplements that help decrease hunger and help improve energy and metabolism to produce synergistic effects, and work to optimize hormones and micronutrients when needed. In addition, we will provide precision, 3-D body imaging analysis to give objective data on body composition. This allows us to track changes taking place over time to fat and lean muscle in order to provide individual disease risk assessment. Finally, our office will be one of the first (if not the first) in the St. louis area to offer FDA approved laser treatment technology options to actually target and shrink fat cells, producing loss in inches along hard to treat areas like the waist, thighs, arms, and neck. These are all options we will use at Ultra Wellness Medical, based on individual needs and goals.
As with any lifestyle change, education is key and we are fortunate to live in an age where technology has brought many treatment options that can help jumpstart weight loss, but long-term success always requires the formation of new habits and practices. The rewards in preventing and potentially reversing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, loss of function and quality of life from disabling arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, improving fatigue, and improving longevity far outweigh our current bad habits. As with everything, the journey of a mile start with the first step. It is my goal at Ultra Wellness Medical to help each individual take the first step, putting their best foot forward and placing them on a path that will lead to success.