Weight Loss Doctors – A Large Body Of Medical Professionals Who Treat Large Bodies
In the USA and around the Western world, obesity is recognized as a serious health problem by all doctors. Obesity has been recognised as a chronic disease since 1985 and, unsurprisingly, many doctors have chosen to specialise in this area, helping their patients to lose weight and stop being obese. These weight loss doctors are more technically known as bariatricians. First of all, what is obesity? The weight loss doctors define obesity as excessive body weight that is likely to cause health problems. The technical definition of obesity varies from doctor to doctor, but most weight loss doctors agree that obesity involves a BMI of 30 or more, or being Obesity can be a significant contributing factor in hypertension (high blood pressure), cardiovascular disease (heart conditions), adult-onset (Type II) diabetes and some varieties of cancer.
By tackling obesity, weight loss doctors are targeting the root cause of the leading causes of death in the modern world. The weight loss doctors also say that obesity is caused by a number of factors. The most obvious causes are lack of exercise combined with eating too much, aided and abetted by lack of motivation/willpower or other psychological problems. Other factors that play a role are genetics, and lifestyle. While weight loss doctors can't do much about a patient's genetics (at least for now), weight loss doctors can treat many of the other factors contributing to obesity and can also provide treatment to bring the patient's weight back down into a healthy range. Weight loss doctors have a number of methods that they use for treating cases. Most weight loss doctors will begin by looking at a patient's health history, their lifestyle and their current health condition. This will include a thorough physical examination. This is where weight loss doctors have an advantage over the non-medical programs: weight loss doctors are able to diagnose if a patient has a heart condition or Type 2 diabetes, or are close to developing these conditions. After the initial physical examination, weight loss doctors will work with a patient to organise a plan of diet and exercise. Weight loss doctors know that this will take two stages: the initial period of weight loss to get the patient's body weight into a healthy range, and then the maintenance phase where the patient can maintain their desired weight. This last phase is a life-long process. Weight loss doctors will ensure that a patient "eases into" an exercise program so that they don't put dangerous strain on their heart, blood pressure or joints. Weight loss doctors are also able to prescribe weight loss medications that are not available over the counter. This means that the medications are very effective and powerful. However, weight loss doctors will also let you know the side effects of taking these medications and can be trusted to make a sound decision if a particular weight loss medication is contra-indicated. Lastly, some weight loss doctors - the bariatric surgeons - can undertake weight loss surgery. This is a last-resort option that should only be used in extreme cases when the patient is grossly obese. Bariatric surgery is different from cosmetic surgery, as it is performed for health reasons. Stomach stapling, gastric bypass surgery, lap-band surgery and liposuction are some of the options available to these highly specialised weight loss doctors. |