Medically Driven Weight Loss

Importance of Losing Weight

If you’re struggling with obesity, weight loss is vital to your health. A number of common medical conditions are related to excess weight and lead o serious health consequences. The good news is, many of these conditions may be improved dramatically with minimal weight loss. Some health issues as a result of obesity include: 
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• High cholesterol / high triglycerides / low HDL cholesterol / hyperlipidemia
  • High blood pressure / hypertension
  • Sleep apnea / excessive sleepiness / insomnia / non-restorative sleep
  • Fatty liver / steatohepatitis / non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
  • Osteoarthritis and back pain
  • Fatigue
  • Heartburn / acid reflux / GERD

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Obesity issues related to pregnancy deserve specific attention.
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The desire for future pregnancy is an important reason to consider weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight. It is important to note that during pregnancy and breast feeding, we do not promote weight loss. It is best to reach a healthy weight before getting pregnant for many reasons:

Potential Problems for Mothers with Obesity / Overweight

• Gestational diabetes risk is up to 20 times higher.
• High blood pressure / pre-eclampsia risk is up to 10 times higher.
• C-section delivery is up to 3 times more likely.
• Hospital stay for mom at delivery averages 4 days longer.
• Cost of prenatal care and delivery is much higher.

Potential Problems for Babies of Overweight or Obese Moms

• ​Major birth defects are 35% more likely. The greatest risk is for neural tube defects.
  • Intensive care unit stay for the newborn is 3 times more likely.
  • Death of the fetus or newborn is 3 times more likely.

Several Other Potential Medical Conditions are Associated with Obesity or Being Overweight Including:

• Heart disease / coronary artery disease
• Diabetes mellitus type II / pre-diabetes / impaired glucose
• High blood pressure / hypertension high cholesterol / hyperlipidemia
• Sleep apnea / daytime sleepiness
• Kidney disease
• Cancer of the breast, esophagus, stomach, colon, endometrium, and kidney
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Osteoarthritis
• ObGyn complications / infertility

• Neural tube defects in infants​
• Chronic venous insufficiency / deep vein thrombosis
• Gallbladder disease
• Gout
• Wound infection
• Impaired immunity
• Liver disease
• Low back pain
• Pancreatitis
• Surgical complications
• Urinary stress incontinence