Ideally, a weight loss prescription should be tailored to the individual needs of the patient. And for some patients, the need is to change body composition without losing weight, such as losing fat and gaining muscle! Men, women, and children all have unique metabolic features which affect their weight. Children are not just small adults. Their metabolic patterns are special. Likewise, the elder patients have metabolic patterns which require attention. As we progress through our lifespan the reasons we gain weight, the reasons we have difficulty losing weight, and the reasons we have difficulty keeping weight off actually can change dramatically. What used to work just great for dropping the extra pounds when we were younger becomes a futile exercise in frustration as we age.
Although some measures, such as the body mass index (BMI), are a helpful shorthand in determining if a person is in an ideal or healthy weight, it is not accurate for prescribing weight loss therapies. Some people may be naturally heavier or lighter without being technically overweight or underweight in terms of body fat. Athletes, for instance, may be heavier than the standard BMI for their height due to muscle density. In some instances, one may even need to gain weight to stay healthy. So a measure of body composition is more helpful.
A person should ideally lose (or gain) weight within the optimal healthy parameters. However, when it comes to managing one's body weight, there is no “one size fits all” therapy. Although bariatric surgery is quite popular, it too has it’s risks and failures.
Diet pills are known for their meager results and diversity of side effects. Achieving and then maintaining a healthy weight requires understanding of the complex physiology and metabolism involved, and should be accomplished under the guidance of a knowledgeable physician. The positive outcomes in addition to looking and feeling better include reduced risk of diabetes, heart disease, skin disease, arthritis, and cancer. Sexual and reproductive function can improve. Truly the path to living younger and loving longer.
With a background in Cardiology including interventional cardiology, nuclear cardiology, and cardiovascular CT, Dr. Lowell I. Gerber co-developed a new medical practice concept combining the principles and practice of proactive preventive aging medicine with cardiology and bariatric medicine that helps him prescribe and develop plan for optimal health throughout the patient's life span. Visit this blog for more information.