Clinical Weight Loss Programs

If you’ve been watching a lot of non clinical weight loss commercials, then it may come as a surprise that there also exists an alternative to all of this. People looking for healthy weight loss often find themselves confused when it comes to making a final choice. Many of them are also ignorant of the fact that there exists a huge array of clinical weight loss programs. This article is aimed at providing you with required information in this context. Also note the various caution and warnings related to clinical weight loss programs.

The major difference between a non-clinical and clinical program is that the latter provides services in a health care setting, such as a hospital or a registered medical clinic. In a clinical setting, several licensed health professionals, such as registered dietitians, nurses and doctors, are available at your disposal to provide care. Also note that a clinical program may or may not be privately owned.

A clinical program may also offer several additional services, such as nutrition education, tailored physical activity and habit changing therapy. Depending on the kind of care that you’re looking for, some programs may also offer prescription weight loss drugs or some special surgery such as   gastrointestinal surgery. Let’s discuss both of these in some detail.

Prescription Weight-loss Drugs:
Such drugs are recommended, depending upon the Body Mass Index(BMI) of a person. BMI is basically a ratio of weight to height of an individual. It’s a widely used tool among the health community to determine as to whether a person’s weight poses a risk to his general health. If your BMI is 30 or more, or your BMI is 27 or more and you’re facing weight related health problems, then chances are good that you’ll be recommended prescription based weight loss drugs.

It’s important to note here that you must not act as your own doctor when looking for such drugs. Further, such drugs should be used as part of an overall program that aims to inculcate long term changes in diet and physical activity habits. Again, only a licensed health professional can prescribe a specific drug depending on your particular situation.

Gastrointestinal surgery:
This method of weight loss is only recommended for individuals who’re facing extreme weight loss problems such as obesity or other weight related heart problems. In case your BMI is 40 or more, or your BMI is 35 or more and you have weight related health problems such as heart diseases or diabetes, then you may consider using this option. Gastrointestinal surgery also goes by the name Bariatric surgery, and is a quick way to lose a lot of weight.

However, to maintain your reduced weight, you’ll be required to indulge in regular physical activity over the long term. You might also have to change your eating habits and start eating more healthy food. Please note, that undergoing this surgery might reduce the amount of vitamins and minerals, absorbed by your body. Another major side effect of this surgery is formation of gallstones, which is a corollary of rapid weight loss.