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Medical Weight Loss

Losing excess weight can sometimes be difficult despite exercising regularly and eating small portion sizes. If you’ve tried conventional weight loss methods such as these, medical weight loss may be your ideal solution.

Here’s more about what medical weight loss is, how it works and how to request an appointment with Advanced Laparoscopic Associates if you need help losing excess weight.

What Is Medical Weight Loss?

Medical weight loss is a blanket term for weight loss treatments that are prescribed and overseen by doctors and nurse practitioners who specialize in helping people achieve a healthy weight.

Prescription weight loss medications are the most common medical weight loss treatments and work in different ways to help you lose weight. For instance, stimulants can reduce your appetite and increase your metabolism. Appetite suppressants can make you feel full sooner, so you eat less.

Your doctor can help you navigate all of your available medical weight loss options and work with you on finding the best solution.

Benefits of Medical Weight Loss

All medical weight loss treatments are personalized—meaning your treatment plan will be tailored for you based on your unique situation and the challenges you face as they relate to weight loss.

Other advantages and benefits of medical weight loss include the following:
  • Nutrition counseling, teaches you about healthy foods and eating behaviors that can help you lose weight.
  • Exercise education, teaches you about exercises that can increase lean muscle and burn excess fat tissue.
  • Safety, given how your weight loss treatments are overseen by medical professionals who can modify treatment as needed and help you overcome obstacles standing in the way of weight loss.
  • Greater access to treatment for obesity-related conditions. You may be referred to other medical specialists who can treat underlying conditions preventing you from losing weight, such as hormone-related conditions.

Motivation and support. Your medical team will guide you through every step of your weight-loss journey and may even encourage your participation in support groups with others who share and understand your same weight-loss challenges.

Who Is a Candidate for Medical Weight Loss?

To be a candidate for medical weight loss, you should already have tried losing excess weight using conventional methods like diet and exercise. Every medical weight loss treatment has its own eligibility criteria. Your doctor can help you navigate these criteria to determine whether you’re an ideal candidate.

Weight loss pills are typically indicated for patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater who have already tried losing excess weight with diet and exercise. Patients with a BMI of 27 or greater may also qualify for weight loss medication if they have an obesity-related condition such as type 2 diabetes or heart disease.

Approved Medical Weight Loss Medications

The FDA has approved several medications for the treatment of obesity and weight loss. These weight loss pills and medications include:

  • Orlistat (Xenical, Alli), which reduces the amount of fat your body absorbs from the foods you eat.
  • Phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia), which reduces your appetite and makes you feel full sooner.
  • Naltrexone-bupropion (Contrave), which interacts with certain brain chemicals and hormones to reduce your appetite.
  • Liraglutide (Saxenda) and semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic), which help regulate your appetite and may also improve symptoms of type 2 diabetes.
  • Setmelanotide (IMCIVREE) an injectable medication that increases metabolism, reduces your appetite and increases feelings of fullness.
  • Phentermine (Adipex-P, Lomaira), benzphetamine (Didrex), diethylpropion and phendimetrazine (Bontril PDM)—all of which interact with brain chemicals in ways to make you feel less hungry.

ALA Offers Medical Weight Loss Options

If you are interested in medical weight loss options, contact Advanced Laparoscopic Associates to request an appointment and receive a personalized treatment plan from ALA nurse practitioner Nadia Setzer, RN, MSN, APN-C. We can perform an evaluation, talk to you in more detail about your weight-loss goals and help you find a solution that may work best for you.

Call (201) 646-1121 today and schedule your consultation with one of our surgeons!

 

Or use our online Request an Appointment form.

 

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