Do you struggle to lose weight? You’re not alone if so. According to a study in The BMJ, popular diets yield minimal long-term effects for most people.
Losing weight may be difficult for so many because a wide range of factors can influence a person’s weight, their ability to lose weight, and their ability to keep it off. Such factors include (but aren’t limited to) the following:
- Genetics
- Diet
- Overall physician condition and fitness
- Cultural factors (as cultural factors can influence diet, lifestyle, etc.)
- Age
- Gender
None of this is meant to suggest that losing weight and keeping weight off are impossible goals. On the contrary, a weight management program can be very effective when it accounts for the variety of factors that may contribute to an individual’s weight loss struggles.
Specific factors a quality weight management program may account for include:
- Medical management
- Exercise
- Nutrition
- Behavior modification
Medical Management
Patients will see a medical provider on an ongoing basis whil;e in treatment. This provider will help to monitor medical conditions, medications, laboratory studies and your overall well being while in the program
Weight loss medication may be necessary to help some patients achieve their weight loss goals and can be considered as part of the program when indicated.
Some medications for your medical problems may come with side effects that can contribute to weight gain. Working with a professional to evaluate and help manage your medications may play a key role in your attempts to lose weight.
Exercise
Exercise ought to be a component of most weight management programs. Through proper exercise, an individual can burn calories, helping them shed pounds. Additional benefits of exercise may include:
- Improved mental health
- Greater ability to participate in activities that require physical fitness
- Developing social bonds if one chooses to exercise with others
However, the right exercise regimen for one person may not be ideal for another. A strong weight management program will help a person sustainably commit to a long-term fitness routine by tailoring the regimen to their age, abilities, and more.
Nutrition
Exercise and fitness play critical roles in weight management. That said, according to a study in Diabetes Spectrum, a journal from the American Diabetes Association, exercise on its own may have a somewhat small impact on a person’s weight in the long run.
That’s not to say that exercise isn’t a vital component of weight management. Rather, exercise combined with proper nutrition is key to optimizing the effectiveness of such a program.
Keep in mind that these factors complement one another. If you’re eating well, you’ll have more energy to engage in physical activity.
Behavior Modification
Struggling to lose weight can cause a person to experience psychological and emotional difficulties. Unfortunately, psychological and emotional issues may also contribute to the types of behaviors that sabotage a person’s weight loss attempts.
Addressing these struggles is a critical component of weight management. By getting to the root of their issues, a person may be more likely to consistently avoid the behaviors that have previously stopped them from maintaining a healthy weight.
Learn More About Multidisciplinary Weight Management Programs
At The Weight and Wellness Institute, in Cranston, Rhode Island, our goal is to help you and others manage your weight by developing custom programs that address all elements of your weight management needs. For more information about what we can do for you, contact us online today or call us at 401-895-9937 to request an appointment.
Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can be a challenge. Millions of Americans are overweight and struggle with weight loss. Being overweight can cause a variety of health problems from well known conditions like diabetes and heart disease to the lesser known connection of increased cancer risk.
Do you want to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle? Do you want to feel better and have more energy to do the things you love? Learn why people are experiencing success with the help of The Weight and Wellness Institute.
Lose Weight Safely
At The Weight and Wellness Institute we believe in the importance of losing weight safely and at a healthy rate. Unlike fad diets that may cause you to lose a significant amount of weight in a very short time, we provide programs that will help you lose weight gradually, which is better for your body and health. Losing weight too quickly can lead to muscle loss, an increased risk of gallstones, and a lack of necessary nutrients. Safe, gradual weight loss means you are less likely to gain the weight back.
Maintain Your Weight
Our goal is to help you achieve a healthy weight and also maintain it. We don’t just send you on your way once you reach your weight loss goal. We provide you with the education and the tools you need to continue with the healthy lifestyle that helped you lose weight. You have our support going forward, to whatever extent you need it, and we are glad to welcome you back if you need a refresher.
Psychological Approach
A big part of establishing a healthy lifestyle is psychological. Our mental health and learned behaviors have a huge impact on the way we eat, the way we live, our attitude toward exercise, and many other aspects of life. It may be necessary to learn new ways of thinking that can help you make positive choices and lasting changes in your lifestyle and the way you see yourself. Learning to have a healthy self-image begins before weight loss and should exist independently of the number on the scale.
Focus on Health Over Weight
At the Weight and Wellness Institute, the goal is to achieve better overall health more than a specific number on the scale. The definition of a healthy weight is not the same for everyone. Our staff is made up of doctors, nurses, and a variety of medical specialists who can assess your health and determine what your health and weight goals should be.
Highly Qualified Doctors and Staff
The Weight and Wellness Institute is run by a highly qualified team of doctors, dieticians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, and other medical specialists. We have the knowledge and expertise to help you achieve a healthier lifestyle through safe weight loss, nutrition, exercise, and mental health.
Nutrition Counseling and Meal Support
When it comes to weight loss, the larger piece of the puzzle is nutrition. While exercise is also important, studies have shown that weight loss is more driven by what and how much you eat. We provide dietary counseling and ongoing support to help you eat a healthier diet that will not only lead to weight loss, but help you feel better and reduce your risk of a wide variety of health conditions. We also provide meal replacement supplements to make it easier to stay on track.
Specialty Programs for Specific Health Conditions
Our services include condition-specific programs for diabetes and other health conditions that can ensure that you lose weight safely and reduce the risk of complications due to preexisting conditions.
Get Started Today
If you’re ready to begin your journey toward better health and wellness, call 401-895-9937 or contact us today to learn more and schedule an appointment.
Many insurance policies cover at least part of the cost of weight management programs. Whether you receive comprehensive coverage may depend on your policy and whether your body weight contributes to a serious medical condition like diabetes or high blood pressure.
What Is a Weight Management Program?
A weight management program is a medically supervised system that supports patients of all ages as they lose weight. These programs provide better and more permanent results than losing weight on your own without a medical team's support.
When you take advantage of a medical weight management program like the Weight and Wellness Institute, you will benefit from support from physicians, behaviorists, dietitians, nurses, and exercise specialists. You can meet with your peers in group settings to share your experiences and receive help with weight management strategies. You may also be a candidate for Optifast, our medically approved, very low-calorie meal replacement system.
Diabetes presents its own set of weight management challenges. Specialized programs for patients with diabetes are also available. Diabetes management programs include nutritional, exercise, behavioral, and medical counseling services.
Benefits of a Weight Management Program
- Safe and nutritionally sound
- More effective than fad diets or over-the-counter supplements
- Emphasizes the importance of exercise as it relates to weight management
- Focuses on permanent lifestyle change
- Treats the whole person, not just a number on the scale
- Offers peer support through weight management groups
- Provides behavioral health support as well as medical care
Insurance Coverage
Your insurance coverage for weight management may vary based on the individual details of your medical policy. If you meet the medical guidelines for obesity, you are more likely to receive coverage from certain insurers.
If you need to know what specific weight management services your medical insurance covers, please call your insurer or visit their website to review policy documents. You may also wish to speak with your employer's human resources team for more details. Our skilled office staff can also help you file claims and navigate the insurance system to get the necessary benefits.
Losing the Weight and Keeping It Off
If you want to change your body weight but don't know where to start, we can help you. Weight loss doesn't happen overnight and may seem like an uphill battle. When you have a medical support team, you will feel better about the process.
For patients who have reached their target weight, we have maintenance programs that focus on making new habits permanent. Participating in these programs will make you more likely to adopt a healthy mindset well into the future.
Call the Weight and Wellness Institute
You can change your life and move forward for a healthier future. Please call our Cranston, RI, office at 401-895-9937 for further information or to schedule an appointment for a consultation.
Do you want to lose weight? Perhaps you’ve been told that you need to lose weight for your own health and wellness. Maybe you want your clothes to fit better or to feel more confident in a swimsuit. Whatever the reason, you may be more likely to reach your weight loss goals when you join a weight management group.
If you’ve struggled to lose weight in the past or you’ve tried other weight loss programs without success, consider the benefits of joining a weight management group.
Higher Chance of Reaching Your Goals
Numerous studies have shown that people who participate in weight management groups are more likely to reach their goals than those who attempt to lose weight alone. A group provides encouragement and accountability through regular meetings. Some weight loss groups meet in person, others meet online through video conferencing, and some check in with each other using text or messaging apps. Find a group that fits your needs for a better chance of success.
Keep the Weight Off for the Long Term
Losing weight is only part of the battle toward better health and wellness. Keeping the weight off and maintaining the results you got from your efforts is more likely when you are part of a weight loss group. It helps to keep in touch with the members of your group or keep meeting as a group regularly to support each other. With group support you are less likely to gain the weight back by regressing to old habits.
Emotional Support From Others
Unhealthy habits are often tied to emotions. Support from others with similar struggles can provide the emotional support you need to quit unhealthy habits such as overeating and stress eating. When you’re feeling down and don’t want to exercise, talking to a friend from your weight management group can help you feel more motivated to overcome negative emotions and thought patterns.
Call the Weight and Wellness Institute
If you have decided you’re ready for a change, call our Cranston, RI office at 401-895-9937 to schedule a consultation to start your weight loss journey.
Physical exercise is an essential component of weight loss and maintaining your physical health. However, many people fail to perform a proper exercise regiment. While all physical activity can help burn categories, improper exercise can lead to a lack of muscle development in key areas of your bodies. Even worse, doing more than what your body is prepared to handle can lead to bodily injury.
That’s why we highly recommend getting a standard exercise evaluation done when you’re ready to get into seriously exercising. A standard exercise evaluation, or fitness assessment, is a series of five tests that will help you understand your current health and physical status. After completion, your evaluator will help you set goals and a schedule of exercises to perform in order to lose weight, build muscle, and improve your health.
Here are the five tests you can expect during a standard exercise evaluation as detailed by the fitness experts here at the South County Weight and Wellness Institute:
Muscular strength
Muscular strength refers to how much force or strength your muscles can produce. Muscular strength is important because it impacts how much you can easily lift. A push up test is often used to assess muscular strength. Weights at the gym, including bench presses and similar machines, are often recommended to improve muscular strength.
Muscular endurance
Muscular endurance refers to how long you can use your muscles continually without needing to rest. Muscular endurance is important because it impacts how long you can stand on your feet and is closely tied to muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance. A sit up, or curl up, test is often used to assess muscular endurance. Biking, treadmills, and elliptical machines are all recommended to improve muscular endurance.
Cardiovascular endurance
Cardiovascular endurance measures how well your heart and lungs work together to provide oxygen to sustain heightened activity. Cardiovascular endurance impacts your overall energy levels, along with your ability to run during the day. A one-mile run or multi-stage sprint is often used to evaluate cardiovascular endurance. Jogging, biking, and swimming are all recommended activities to improve cardiovascular endurance.
Flexibility
Flexibility refers to how well you can maneuver with your key joints. Flexibility impacts your ability to reach objects and use your muscles throughout the day without straining yourself. A sit and reach test is often administered to measure flexibility. To improve flexibility, stretch out your limbs and perform the other above recommended exercises to improve flexibility over time.
Body composition
Unlike the other four tests, body composition isn’t a specific physical activity but a way to measure your overall physical health. Body composition measures the amount of fat compared to the muscle, bones, organs, and other parts of your body. To measure body composition, your height, gender, and weight along with other conditions are imputed into a formula to come up with your Body Mass Index, or BMI.
While many use BMI scores as a way to measure one’s health, they should be used as a guide rather than a specific goal. Different circumstances will mean that the ideal BMI score varies from person to person. This is why it is important to meet with a professional wellness evaluator before training towards a BMI. Experienced medical professionals who understand your health will help you find the proper BMI score you should strive for.
Improve your health with the South County Weight and Wellness Institute
Are you looking for professional help to improve your health? If you live in or near Providence, Rhode Island, then you should visit us at the South Country Weight and Wellness Institute.
Our experienced team of physicians, nurses, exercise physiologists, behavior therapists and registered dietitians are all dedicated to helping you make healthier choices in your life. Along with recommended workout regiments, we’ll provide you with the nutritional plans and patient support you need to safely lose weight and improve your life.
Contact us today if you have any questions or to schedule an appointment, and we look forward to seeing you at the South County Weight and Wellness Institute!