If you are planning on embarking on a weight loss journey, it is important to do it in a safe and effective manner. Always check with your family doctor before you begin to ensure you have no health problems that may be aggravated by the dietary and physical changes you will be making. There are many cases when a physical examination will uncover an illness that may be preventing you from gaining or losing weight. This is when it is important to work hand in hand with your doctor and use a medically supervised weight management program.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia will have a dramatic impact on your health. The mental and physical factors of the disorders can stress both the body and mind causing a variety of other symptoms that can affect how the body gains or loses weight. With certain types of eating disorders, psychological counseling is needed to help work through the thought processes that make a person believe they are too fat or too thin.
Metabolic Disorders
Metabolic disorders affect how the body functions and burns calories. A body's metabolism is regulated through the release of hormones and other elements that trigger various processes in the body. A good example of this are conditions that affect the thyroid gland. An overactive thyroid causes processes in the body to speed up burning an excessive amount of calories. An individual needs to take in more calories more often just to keep up with the body's needs. If the thyroid is under active, the exact opposite occurs. The processes slow down and any calories taken in that exceeds the body's needs will be turned into fat. Both conditions cause a variety of health concerns that can affect a person's general health. Diabetes mellitis is another metabolic disorder that affects how the body metabolizes blood glucose.
Chronic Illness
Chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, COPD and degenerative bone disease can also affect how a person's gains or loses weight. Some chronic illnesses effect how a person's food is digested and nutrients are absorbed, while others may limit their physical activity making it harder for them to remain active. Finding exercises that can accommodate these issues are essential. For example, a person with fibromyalgia who has trouble with range of motion and mobility, may be able to gain both strength and muscle mass by performing aquatic exercise.
Autoimmune Disorders
Autoimmune disorders can also have an impact on a person's ability to gain or lose weight. Individuals who have the HIV virus, AIDS or rheumatoid arthritis may have a difficult time gaining weight due to the immune system's constant struggle to maintain a healthy environment. By working with a physician who specializes in weight management programs, you can find ways to effectively treat your condition as well as gain the weight you need to remain healthy.
If you have tried to gain or lose weight in the past and have had difficulty without finding a reason for the failure, getting a complete physical may provide you with the answers you need.
We encourage you to sit down with me and schedule a consultation. At that point I could recommend treatment options and weight management programs that can help you reach your goals in a safe and efficient manner. I can also provide you with the supplements you need to make sure you get the daily recommended dietary allowances for all of the vitamins and minerals your body must have to remain healthy. Talk to me or your doctor and get started on your journey. You will feel better and be able improve your quality of life.
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