Comprehensive Care for Obesity

Posted: Aug 01 in Obesity Medicine by Dr. Lazarus

The Disease of Obesity

10 years ago, obesity got recognized as a disease. This means that obesity is a medical problem, and that comprehensive treatment involves a lot more than simply losing weight.

Obesity Medicine Physician

I am frequently asked, “What is the difference between a doctor certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine, vs. just working with an online provider who prescribes GLP-1 medications?” This question is nicely answered in a medical article that was just published in Obesity Pillars here. The article states that because obesity is recognized as a serious, chronic, progressive, relapsing and treatable disease, that comprehensive care involves far more than simply losing weight.

Comprehensive Care of Obesity

At the OMA, we have defined 4 “Pillars” in the comprehensive care of obesity – healthful nutrition, physical activity, behavior modification, and medical management (including anti-obesity / weight-loss medications, medical management of comorbidities, and/or weight loss surgery). If a person is not receiving all 4 pillars of care, they are not being treated.

Obesity Treatment

So what does this all mean? It means that obesity treatment is measured beyond simply pounds lost. Learning to eat healthy has many health benefits beyond weight loss – we can lower heart disease risk and cancer risk for example. Being physically active improves health with or without weight loss. There is a big focus now on improving body composition – increasing lean weight and reducing visceral fat. Sometimes this can improve metabolism, improve balance, decrease fall risk and decrease heart attack risk.

Patients at CNC receive comprehensive obesity care – Dr. Lazarus and Heather provide medical management, RDN’s provide behavioral support, healthy eating and individualized physical activity counseling, we offer structured food plans and full meal replacement options. When medically necessary, we also provide referral for metabolic and bariatric surgery.

What’s the moral of the story? Never put all of your eggs in one basket. Getting to the healthiest and happiest version of you involves more than just losing weight. Let’s focus on the whole picture so you can live your best life!