What is a Weight Loss Doctor Called?

If you’re looking to lose weight, you may have stumbled upon the term bariatrician. But what is a bariatrician? Simply put, a bariatric physician is a doctor who specializes in helping patients lose weight without surgical intervention. They use non-invasive methods such as diet modification, physical activity, and behavior therapy to help patients achieve their desired weight and maintain it in the long run. Related Article: What Is BMR In Weight Loss

Bariatricians are experts in the field of bariatric medicine, which is the art and science of medical weight management. It falls under obesity medicine since they primarily treat obesity and related disorders such as heart disease and diabetes. Most bariatricians incorporate weight management services into an existing family, internal medicine, or OB-GYN practice.

Suppose someone has struggled with their weight for some time and has tried various diets that haven’t proved successful. If traditional methods like exercising more, reducing calorie intake, or detoxes have not helped them achieve their goals, they might consider visiting a bariatrician.

These doctors provide medically supervised weight-loss treatment programs, which consist of changes in diet, physical activity levels, and behavioral therapy. A medically supervised program involves individualized assessment to determine a patient’s degree of obesity and overall health status.

At the center of bariatric medicine is the management and treatment of weight loss and related disorders. The goal is not only to help patients lose weight but also to ensure that they maintain their body weight and control other risk factors like elevated blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.

To achieve this, a visit to a bariatric physician would involve extensive counseling on proper eating habits, exercise, behavior modification, and other aspects of weight loss. Beyond the initial change in diet, physical activity levels, and behavioral therapy measures put in place, patient follow-up is vital. Physician recommendations on diet and physical activity goals must be recorded regularly throughout treatment.

Bariatricians can be compared to personal trainers in that they offer support throughout the journey but are trained doctors using non-surgical treatments.

Bariatricians may use medications to achieve progress. Still, like any medication usage, potential benefits and risks will need to be discussed thoroughly. An individual weight-loss maintenance program tailored to each patient’s unique needs is developed after achieving pre-planned weight-loss goals.

It is recommended to ask bariatricians about their specialization, current education in the field, patient work-up process, follow-up visit frequency, potential side effects of medications used during treatment plans, and training in monitoring patients on low-calorie diets.

Having understood the role and importance of bariatric medicine let’s explore comprehensive services provided by weight loss specialists.

A weight loss specialist is the doctor who provides help to people struggling with obesity and related disorders. These professionals are well-versed in medical weight management or bariatric medicine, which deals with evaluating, diagnosing, and treating overweight patients. Bariatricians incorporate weight management services into their practice, providing comprehensive care to patients seeking treatment. During your first visit to a bariatrician, your work-up will consist of an evaluation and determining your history, physical examination, and laboratory tests.

Height, weight, and waist circumference measurements will be taken to determine your body mass index. Your physician will then recommend counseling on proper eating habits, exercise routines, behavior modification techniques, and other aspects of weight loss. A physician recommendation on changes in diet and physical activity goals must be recorded regularly throughout treatment.

Some specialists may also recommend medicines during treatment if necessary. While medications can help achieve successful weight loss goals quickly, it’s crucial to discuss potential benefits and risks before deciding on using them as tools for reaching one’s goal.

One of the most significant aspects of comprehensive care is developing an individualized plan that integrates diet modifications, physical activity plans improved behaviors3a alongside any medication regime prescribed.

For instance, suppose you are struggling with a sedentary lifestyle that contributes significantly to your obesity. In that case, your specialist may recommend an exercise plan that suits your fitness level and current physical status. In addition, behavioral therapy is integrated to determine which factors contribute to unhealthy eating habits. You may work closely with a nutritionist or dietitian to develop a meal plan that would suit your lifestyle best.

Think of your weight loss specialist as a personal trainer for overall physical and mental well-being. Similar to how a trainer creates workout routines specific to your goals and needs, they will create treatment plans tailored for you.

Overall, the goal of bariatric medicine is achieving long-term weight loss and maintenance through lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and behavioral modifications tailored to the specific patient.

According to the American Society of Bariatric Physicians (ASBP), medical weight management is more effective in achieving long-term weight loss than self-directed efforts. This is due to the fact that bariatric medicine targets obesity and related disorders precisely using science-based methodologies. Opting for a physician-supervised weight-loss program means that you’ll undergo an assessment process to determine your degree of obesity and overall health status. By analyzing this information, the bariatrician can design a comprehensive treatment plan that’s tailor-made to meet your specific needs.

One significant advantage of consulting with a weight loss physician is the ability to address underlying medical concerns. Sometimes, factors like genetics or hormonal changes cause metabolic imbalances that could make it difficult to manage body weight, even with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. A trained professional can conduct lab tests or recommend medication if necessary.

Another critical advantage of working with a weight loss doctor is access to safe and scientifically proven methods. Some commercial diets and supplements could have adverse health effects, but a physician would consider your medical history before recommending any treatments.

Let’s explore one of the benefits mentioned earlier- personalized treatment programs.

A personalized treatment program means precisely what it implies: an individually tailored approach towards managing your dietary intake and physical fitness routine that works best for you. After your initial assessment, including determining body mass index (BMI), height, weight and labs – the bariatrician will work on designing an individualized program that meets both short term and long term goals. This process takes time as it involves learning about each patient’s personal challenges and providing recommendations based on their lifestyle.

For instance, if you have underlying health conditions like diabetes or hypertension, your physician may recommend ways of reducing the risk factors associated with these diseases by incorporating specific dietary guidelines or medications. A comprehensive and personalized program encompasses all aspects of treatment, including behavioral therapy, physical activity level adjustment, and if necessary, surgical intervention.

It’s also worth noting that a physician-led weight-loss program offers guidance, motivation, and an accountability framework to ensure the patient stays on course. Physicians may assign a team of nutritionists, counselors, or trainers to work alongside each patient regularly.

Think of it like having your personal coach or mentor who holds you accountable but at the same time supports your decisions to live a healthier lifestyle. The added benefit being access to expert advice customized to work with your daily routine.

Ultimately the goal of any personalized treatment program is to achieve not just short-term weight loss goals but long term changes in overall health and well-being.

Bariatric physicians are doctors who specialize in helping patients lose weight without surgical intervention. They treat obesity and related disorders, and most of them incorporate weight management services into an existing family, internal medicine, or OB-GYN practice. When selecting the right bariatrician for your needs, it is important to know that not all doctors in this field are created equal.

For example, you may want to seek a bariatrician with extensive experience and education in treating patients on low-calorie diets or those who are dealing with specific health conditions. On the other hand, you may prefer a bariatrician who incorporates holistic approaches into their weight management program. Beyond personal preferences, there are several factors to consider when looking for a suitable bariatrician.

With this in mind let us take a look at some criteria that can come in handy when choosing a specialist.

When selecting a weight loss specialist, healthcare seekers must do their homework to ensure they choose the best possible match for their individual goals and needs. Keep the following criteria in mind:

• Specialization and current education in the field – Weight loss specialists should have specialized training from accredited institutions or programs.
• Patient work-up process – The specialist should use patient history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and body measurements to determine health status and degree of obesity.
• Follow-up visit frequency and availability – It is important to understand if follow-up visits fall within patient comfort levels as this aids adherence to weight management programs.
• Potential side effects of medications – A specialist should discuss any potential benefits and risks of medication with patients before prescribing them.
• Training in monitoring patients on low-calorie diets – It’s essential for specialists to have thorough knowledge about proper calorie intake limits and be able to set long-term goals for patients.
• Costs and insurance coverage – Patients must understand the costs and which services their insurance cover. Special note: Health insurance may foot some or all of the bill for bariatric treatment for patients with specific conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.
• Recommended referrals for support – Depending on individual goals and needs, recommendations include but are not limited to speaking to board-certified health and wellness coaches for support and accountability, dietitians for meal plans, therapists for mental health support, and trainers for workout plans.

With these criteria in mind, you can create a checklist that can aid in selecting an ideal weight loss specialist. It is however important to realize that there isn’t a shortcut to choosing the right bariatrician. Research, diligent monitoring of symptoms, communication with your doctor and rating your experience points provide sound ways to ultimately land on a suitable specialist you feel comfortable working with.