Most people who try to lose weight start by counting calories and trying to get more exercise. This works for some people, especially if they do not have a significant amount of excess body weight. For others, losing weight is an uphill struggle and if they do happen to lose any weight, it is only temporary and they cannot sustain the weight loss.
Obesity is a complex issue and there can be many underlying conditions that contribute to an individual’s weight struggles. If you have tried to lose weight through traditional methods of diet and exercise and have not had any success, you may wish to consider getting some professional help.
Simmons Advanced Weight Loss Solutions has helped many patients through medical weight loss in Miami, Fl. Today’s blog post will provide you with an overview of why utilizing medical weight loss can help you succeed if you are unable to do it on your own.
We will discuss some of the reasons you may have been unable to reach your weight loss goal and provide an overview of the weight loss options in Miami that we offer and how they can help you.
The Misconception Surrounding Obesity
Obesity has no “one size fits all” solution because the reasons behind it are numerous and complex. The sad fact is that most of society does not have the correct perception of this disease which affects over 41% of American adults.
It is unclear why there is such a widespread belief that obesity is all about willpower and that people who suffer from it just don’t try hard enough. This may be true for a handful of individuals, but did you know there are numerous underlying factors that can contribute to weight gain or someone’s inability to lose weight? Also, the more excess weight an individual is carrying, the more difficult it is for them to lose it without some type of medical assistance.
Why Losing Weight Might Be Harder For You
If you have ever watched other people decide to lose weight on some new diet or weight loss program and they seem to succeed with ease while nothing you do seems to be effective, you are not alone. Many people struggle with their weight and their bodies do not respond to diet and exercise.
Research has shown that lifestyle choices can affect weight loss to some extent but that there are several physiological reasons that can contribute to obesity including genetics, environment, health conditions, medications, stress, inadequate sleep, emotional health, hormones, etc.
In addition to any underlying conditions that may exist, your body could be working against you! When you try to cut calories, your body slows your metabolism and you burn calories at a slower rate. When you are under stress, your body releases cortisol into your system which acts as a fat-retention agent. These automatic responses that our bodies generate are out of our control.
A specialist who is trained in obesity management like Dr. Simmons and his team at their Miami-based weight loss clinic can provide you with strategies and medical weight loss options to assist you in gaining control over your weight and your health.
Asking For Help Is The Right Thing To Do
Eating healthy and getting plenty of exercises are only part of the picture when addressing difficulties in weight loss. But the real travesty is that only 10% of the people who really need help will ask for it because of the social stigma and bias they have experienced.
There is nothing wrong with getting help when you can’t handle something alone. As a matter of fact, thousands of people do it every day; the only difference is that most of the population is misinformed about the nuances of obesity and does not understand the disease.
If an individual was sick, running a fever, and they had tried to recover at home but found they were not improving, everyone would be encouraging them to go to the doctor, right? Maybe the illness they are experiencing requires the use of antibiotics to eradicate it, or maybe they just require more rest, but how is one to know what they need to do to get better? Usually, they seek help from a medical professional. The doctor will run some tests to determine what they are suffering from and administer the appropriate treatment.
An obesity specialist will not just tell a patient to eat less and exercise more and then dismiss them. They will perform a thorough evaluation of the individual, including their medical history, current weight, existing medical conditions, etc., and create a safe and effective plan of care.
People ask for help from qualified professionals for all types of reasons, like perfecting their golf game, learning to play a musical instrument, becoming a better leader at work, learning a skill or trade, etc. Asking for help from a qualified professional when you need guidance, medical assistance, or both is a responsible and mature decision.
Why It Is Important To Maintain A Healthy Weight
Obesity is associated with numerous illnesses and serious health conditions and is the culprit behind the nation’s largest number of premature, preventable deaths. Losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight can significantly lower the risks of experiencing heart disease, stroke, and more. There are countless benefits to losing weight but some of the most prevalent ones include the following:
- Elimination or improvements of type 2 Diabetes
- Many individuals who lose weight are able to reduce or eliminate their medication for type 2 diabetes. According to a study conducted by the American Journal of Medicine, over 80% of individuals with type 2 diabetes went into remission after their weight loss.
- Significant improvements in hypertension
- According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, 62% of the patients who lost a significant amount of weight eliminated their high blood pressure and almost 80% showed noteworthy improvement.
- Improves fertility
- Losing weight can have many positive benefits for a woman’s reproductive health. It can improve their fertility and lower their risks of experiencing complications related to pregnancy, delivery, miscarriage, and more.
- Takes excess strain off joints and organs
- Many obese individuals experience the breakdown of their knee joints, hips, and ankles. The body was designed to function at its best when the individual is at a healthy weight. Excess weight makes our bodies work harder to function properly and each pound of excess weight puts 4 pounds of pressure on our knees and joints. Losing weight improves the patient’s mobility and lowers their risk of replacement surgery.
- Extends the lifespan
- Obese individuals can lower their chances of mortality by almost 55% if they can reduce their BMI (body mass index) enough to fall into the overweight range from the obese range.
How Can Simmons Medical Weight Loss In Miami Help Me Lose Weight?
Dr. Simmons and the professional team at Simmons Advanced Weight Loss Solutions will perform a complete evaluation of the patient and determine if any underlying issues (genetics, hormone imbalances, thyroid, lifestyle habits, etc.) are affecting their ability to maintain a healthy weight.
Next, a safe and effective plan of treatment will be created that is tailored to address the patient’s specific issues. This plan may include diet, exercise, a non-surgical weight loss procedure, prescription medication, or a combination of these treatments.
Regardless of the technique used, our Miami weight loss patients receive a comprehensive level of support and are not left on their own to navigate their weight loss journey. They will have a team of professionals at their disposal to help them achieve their weight loss goals and keep the weight off in the long run.
What Weight Loss Options Are Available In Miami At Simmons Advanced Weight Loss Solutions?
When you are trying to lose weight, sometimes you need some extra help to get the job done. In the same way, you would use a jack to lift up a car to change a tire, weight loss tools can help do some of the heavy lifting so your efforts will be successful.
- 1. The Orbera Balloon
- The Orbera balloon is a soft silicone medical device that is placed in a patient’s stomach and then inflated with a saline solution until it is about the size of a grapefruit.
The balloon takes up all but about 25% of the stomach’s capacity so the individual cannot eat very much in one sitting. The decrease in stomach size also makes patients stay satisfied longer because it takes the stomach some time to empty.
The program that accompanies the Orbera balloon procedure runs for a year, during which the patient receives comprehensive support from a team of professionals. The patient learns portion control, how to make healthier food choices, and makes lifestyle changes that promote weight loss and help them to maintain a healthy weight.
After six months, the balloon is removed from the patient’s stomach; however, they continue participating in the program for the remaining six months.
- 2. Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG)
- ESG is completed from inside the patient’s stomach through the use of a special medical device that is outfitted with a tiny camera and a light called an endoscope. This flexible hose-like device is carefully lowered down through the patient’s mouth and throat and into the stomach.
The doctor reshapes the patient’s stomach, reducing it by about 75% into a smaller tube-like pouch, and then uses another special endoscopic device to place several sutures to hold the stomach in the new shape. There is no need for abdominal incisions or a hospital stay. The procedure is done as an outpatient and patients can return home the same day.
The procedure takes less than an hour and is safe and effective. The weight loss that patients experience with endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty rivals that of bariatric gastric sleeve surgery (sometimes it is better!)
Unlike gastric sleeve surgery, which permanently removes a portion of the patient’s stomach, ESG does not make any permanent surgical changes and can be reversed if necessary.
ESG helps patients limit the amount of food they can eat during one meal and because their stomach empties more slowly, they also stay feeling full for a longer period of time.
- 3. Prescription Weight Loss Medication
- Historically, there were only a few choices for weight loss medication, and they tended to be unsafe or not very effective.
Today, there are prescription weight loss injections that are FDA-approved and when used under the supervision of a qualified doctor, are safe and effective.
These prescription injections (Saxenda – Liraglutide, Wegovy – Semiglutide, and Mounjaro – Tirzepatide) were developed to help patients with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar and now have approval for use in obesity management.
The injections are administered on a daily or weekly schedule, and the dose escalates each month until the patient reaches the maximum, where they remain. These weight loss injections can be combined with the Orbera balloon or ESG procedure for optimal weight loss results.
Contact The Best Miami Weight Loss Clinic Today!
If you have been trying to lose weight and feel like you are fighting an uphill battle or that your body is working against you, it is time for you to consider getting some professional help.
Working with a professional who understands the dynamics of obesity and will create a customized plan that addresses underlying issues and provides real-time support from a host of professionals will ensure you meet your weight loss goals.
When weight loss is treated with a multi-faceted approach and the medical, physical, and mental aspects of the process are taken into consideration, patients experience sustainable weight loss. Every person is unique and their weight loss program needs to be unique as well. If you are looking for a safe and effective weight loss program in Miami, contact Simmons Advanced Weight Loss Solutions today and get the help you need and deserve. Set up your appointment today!
