A bariatrician is a licensed physician – Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) – who has received special training in the medical treatment of overweight and obese patients through the Obesity Medical Association (OMA). Bariatricians address the obese patient with a comprehensive program of diet and nutrition, exercise, lifestyle changes and, when indicated, the prescription of appetite suppressants and other appropriate medications.
Why should you consider seeing a bariatrician?
While any licensed physician can offer a medical weight loss program, bariatricians are uniquely equipped to treat overweight and obese patients and their associated conditions. Through the Obesity Medical Association’s extensive continuing medical education programs, the bariatricians at our offices have been trained to use their highly specialized knowledge, tools and techniques to design specialized medical weight loss programs tailored to the needs of individual patients. If needed, they can modify the programs as the treatment progresses.
Because of this qualification, weight loss with one of our physicians includes a complete program focusing not only on weight loss but also on weight maintenance. Our specialists are experienced in helping overweight patients deal with their personal highs and lows during their weight loss journey, including the roadblocks that may appear along the way.
If you have tried to lose weight unsuccessfully in the past, you are not alone.
Obesity is a difficult disease. Even with maximum effort, having setbacks in your weight loss program is as easy as attending one holiday party or going on a vacation with family. Though these are positive activities, they can put stress on your disease and invite old habits to return. Bad stressors like injuries, family losses, and money problems can be even more punishing when it comes to sticking with your weight loss program.
Biochemical imbalances can also make it extremely difficult for a person to lose weight. For example, raised insulin levels can block weight loss. In patients with Insulin resistance, even a slight increase in carbohydrate intake can raise insulin levels enough to slow weight loss. Other biochemical culprits can include thyroid hormone levels, which can affect how quickly or slowly a patient loses weight. Even certain medications can cause weight gain as a side effect. Our physicians will perform blood tests to determine if any of these are contributing to the lack of weight loss.
Hitting a “plateau” in weight loss can also be incredibly frustrating to someone trying to control their weight. For many people, reaching their body’s “comfort zone” can often mean the end of their weight journey, whether they want it to or not. When we lose enough weight, we may look and feel better and, eventually, we lose our focus on excellent nutrition and portion control. This causes us to “plateau” and not lose weight as quickly, if at all. While some tests can help explain this, many times hitting a plateau occurs without explanation, and it is during these times that a supportive team such as ours can encourage you.
Unfortunately, the treatment of obesity doesn’t only involve taking pills – rather, it involves a high degree of personal responsibility. While weight loss requires tough mental fortitude, our staff will never, ever take a stern or judgmental approach to helping with your weight loss. We will guide you through the good times and bad.
We believe in making healthy, lifelong changes to your daily eating and exercise patterns. Physician’s Weight Control & Wellness’s programs are different from other weight loss programs in that they are specifically constructed by bariatric specialists to meet each patient’s individual needs based on their body chemistry, lifestyle, and weight loss goals. Our individualized programs focus on providing positive alternatives to unhealthy habits and targeting foods that provide your body with the specific nutrients it needs for optimal energy and fat metabolism. Practical exercise and hydration are also implemented into our overall program.
We encourage you to become a part of our successful weight loss program. We offer 50 years of safety, experience, knowledge, and expertise found nowhere else!
Contact us with any questions about Physician’s Weight Control & Wellness Center and how we can help you in your journey to better health.
