Making the choice to visit a weight loss clinic is a big step in your weight loss journey. You may be concerned about what it means for you and what doctor supervised weight loss entails. There are many misconceptions about how weight loss clinics work, but doctor-supervised weight loss is one of the safest and most effective ways to lose weight.
Here are some common myths and facts about weight loss clinics.
Myth: They Will Always Prescribe Drugs
Some individuals may benefit from using approved weight loss drugs under their doctor’s supervision, but they are not a requirement when accessing a weight loss clinic. These types of drugs are usually only prescribed by a primary care physician or a licensed medical doctor when a patient has serious health risks because of their weight, and only when changes to diet and lifestyle haven’t resulted in weight loss.
Many weight loss drugs come with unpleasant side effects. In the past, some weight loss drugs (such as amphetamines) were found to be addictive and have been pulled from circulation or repurposed to treat other types of illnesses.
Fact: You Can Lose Weight Without Drugs
The healthiest and most effective way to lose weight is to make changes to your diet and lifestyle. Most weight loss professionals will address these issues without prescribing or recommending the use of drugs. If a clinic does recommend “pills,” they will usually be a natural supplement or a vitamin regimen.
Myth: You Only Go to a Clinic If You’re Desperate
Some individuals get frustrated because they feel like they’ve tried everything but still haven’t had success. They seek a weight loss clinic because they want structure and support for their weight loss plan. But many others go to clinics as a first step. Going to a clinic does not make you “desperate” any more than going to your primary care doctor to treat a common health problem does.
Fact: Many People Choose Doctor-Supervised Weight Loss
Weight loss clinics have helped thousands of people lose weight. People who lead busy lives often find it difficult to adjust to the healthy lifestyle changes that will help them. Doctor-supervised assistance helps them take the guesswork out of weight loss. They are given a structured plan for achieving their goals and all the support they need to do so.
Myth: They’ll Put You On an Extreme Diet
Some clinics do recommend their patients go on extreme diets, but just like the fad diets you see online and in the news, they don’t usually provide results. Most clinics don’t recommend extreme diets, however. A successful clinic will recommend you cut out excess sugars and fats and put you on a diet that maintains your overall health while achieving weight loss.
Fact: You Don’t Have to Give Up the Foods You Love
The truth is you don’t have to give up the foods you love to lose weight. You just have to change how often you eat them and incorporate more healthy foods into your diet. While lowering your calorie intake may be beneficial, cutting your intake of calories to extreme levels may put you at risk of vitamin deficiencies, fatigue, and even muscle loss when done improperly.
Myth: Weight Loss Clinics Don’t Work
Not every clinic is created equal and some are certainly more effective than others, but to say that weight loss clinics don’t help anyone is misleading. Many clinics have high success rates for those patients that stay with their programs. Issues usually arise when people lose weight quickly and decide that they don’t need to continue with their healthy diet. And in some cases, patients may have unrealistic expectations and decide to drop out.
Fact: Clinics Are Effective
The key to losing weight and keeping it off is making lasting changes to one’s diet and lifestyle. Fad diets and extreme programs sometimes show fast results, but they are not sustainable. Look for clinics that help you lose weight fast, keep you healthy, and provide a roadmap for maintaining your weight well into the future.
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