Please describe medical weight loss for me?
Medical weight loss is designed to help you lose weight in a physiologically safe and sound manner consistent with the principles of medicine. As in all medical practice, each medical weight loss program is tailored to your individual weight loss needs. Scientific information is gathered using a specialized scale and focused physical exam in order to create a program that will help you lose weight in a manner that is safe, effective, and sustainable. This data is applied to your specific physiology in order to tailor a plan that will help you lose weight appropriately.
Does medical weight loss mean I will need to take prescription medication?
FDA-approved prescription medication (ie-appetite suppressants) is one of the many tools that are available to help with weight loss. In some patients these medications are appropriate and useful. In others they are not. The key to success in medical weight loss is the individualized, and scientifically-based nature of the program. Medications alone will not provide sustainable weight loss. When medications are used, it is only in a temporary role as part of a larger plan designed for a long-term, sustainable weight loss. Decisions on what if any medications to use are made as joint discussions between you and your provider at the Princeton Center for Medical Weight Loss.
How does medical weight loss differ from other weight loss programs?
Medical weight loss programs differ significantly from commercial programs. One major difference is the way in which medical weight loss programs rely on scientific and physiological data points to tailor a weight loss program to your body’s specific needs. Data points are acquired via a complex body composition analysis scale on a regular (often weekly) basis so that your weight loss plan can be adjusted as your body’s physiology changes. In addition to their highly personalized nature of medical weight loss plans, providers at the Princeton Center for Medical Weight Loss have tools to help you lose weight that are not typically available in a non-medical setting. Safe low-calorie diets, and FDA-approved appetite suppressants are just 2 of the many tools available to assist with medically-directed weight loss.
Who Can Medical Weight Loss Benefit?
Because medical weight loss is scientifically-based, and relies on physiological data-sets, it is customized to every individual’s weight loss needs. As a consequence, medical weight loss can help any individual with his or her specific weight loss needs. Some patients will seek to lose 100 pounds while others will just need to get rid of those final few pounds. Medical weight loss can use your body’s own information to help you achieve those goals in a safe and lasting fashion.