Practical, personalized physician-directed weight loss to support your long-term health

Question 1

What is the fastest way to lose weight?

Answer

As a physician-directed weight loss program provider, Eden MedSpa in Charlotte, North Carolina, encourages you to think less about how fast you can drop the pounds and more about how long you can keep that weight off. The only way to lose weight is to consistently ensure the calories going in are less than the calories being expended through daily activities and physical exercise. And the only way to keep that weight off is through reasonable, gradual weight loss. Fads, restrictions, and other “fast fixes” often result in people regaining more weight than they lost, and they can lead to other health complications (such as muscle loss), too.

Question 2

How much weight should I lose each week?

Answer

Every aspect of this program is tailored. So, what is feasible for one patient may not be feasible for another. That said, the Mayo Clinic generally recommends that people aim to lose between 1 and 2 pounds per week. This amounts to burning between 500 and 750 calories more than you would consume each day. While this may not sound like a lot of weight loss at first, this gradual approach preserves muscle mass and a healthy metabolism and establishes healthy habits that become second nature and are more likely to be maintained after you reach your goal weight. Additionally, a loss of just 5% of your body weight can lower your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and other serious obesity-related health complications. Think less about the specific number on the scale and more about reaching mini-milestones and goals along the way.

Question 3

Why do people regain weight after rapid weight loss?

Answer

This approach is not sustainable over the long term, because intense calorie restrictions force your body to go into survival mode. This creates a cascade of problems that are not conducive to maintaining a healthy weight and your health/wellbeing in general. These effects include:

Metabolism slows, which makes it harder to maintain weight loss and easier to regain the pounds
Muscle loss, because the body burns both fat and muscle when you lose weight too fast
Intense hunger, due to how severe calorie deficits release ghrelin and other “hunger hormones,” and make cravings difficult to resist over the long haul
Deficiencies in nutrients essential for immune health, energy, and other basic functions, attributed to restrictive diets
Painful gallstones caused by the rapid breakdown of fat in the liver
Complications from dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, such as abnormal heart rhythms and extreme fatigue

Question 4

Can I take a pill or shot to lose weight?

Answer

At Eden MedSpa, medications or supplements to control hunger, burn fat, and boost metabolism may be incorporated into patient plans as appropriate. However, no medication is a substitute for the healthy lifestyle that supports a sustained ideal weight. Additionally, under our doctor’s supervision, we can adjust medication dosage and optimize protein intake and strength training to prevent under-eating, overly rapid weight loss, and muscle wasting.

During a consultation, Dr. Obi will discuss practical recommendations tailored to your needs and personal preferences. To get started today, call our office in Charlotte, NC, at (980) 272-5085.