Naturopathic Medicine and Weight Loss
Naturopathic medicine plays a fundamental role in addressing a patient's struggle with weight loss. Obesity has become an epidemic and it is important we become aware of the factors that are causing obesity and start to implement lifestyle changes in order to reverse the negative effects obesity has on our overall health. Sometimes patient's may not be obese but are just uncomfortable with their weight and know that it is contributing to them not feeling well.
Firstly, it is important to address the cause of being overweight/obese. It can be as simple as poor diet and lifestyle choices, or as complicated as thyroid issues, diabetes, or other chronic diseases. Using diagnostic tools and tests along with symptoms the cause can be identified.
Why is it important to treat weight gain?
Being overweight has been linked to several serious health problems, complications and diseases. Fatigue, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, fatty liver, gallbladder issues, kidney issues, stroke, cancer, heart attack, depression/anxiety, just to name a few, are all associated with being overweight and being overweight can increase your chances of developing all of these conditions.
How is weight treated and controlled naturally?
Once the cause of obesity/weight gain has been identified, treatment is established on a individual basis for the patient. First and foremost...EDUCATION! I spend lots of time with my patients educating and explaining things to them so that they truly understand their body and how it functions. Treatment can include things such as vitamins, supplements, herbs, homeopathy and acupuncture that help with weight loss and address the root cause of the issue. Also nutrition and diet are discussed and patients are guided through how to make healthy choices and learn portion control. Exercise programs are implemented on an individual basis and are tailored to meet a patients specific needs. Also counselling is a huge element of treatment and especially if stress or emotions are a predominant cause of weight gain. Stress can cause weight gain by affecting a hormone called cortisol which then affects blood sugar regulation thus leading to weight gain (via something called insulin resistance).
Weight loss is best done under supervision and with proper guidance so that complications are avoided and supplements are taken properly. It is also important to set realistic goals so that goals can be reached and then maintained. Weight loss is all about creating a lifestyle that is sustainable in order to maintain the great results that you can achieve.
Naturopathic medicine plays a fundamental role in addressing a patient's struggle with weight loss. Obesity has become an epidemic and it is important we become aware of the factors that are causing obesity and start to implement lifestyle changes in order to reverse the negative effects obesity has on our overall health. Sometimes patient's may not be obese but are just uncomfortable with their weight and know that it is contributing to them not feeling well.
Firstly, it is important to address the cause of being overweight/obese. It can be as simple as poor diet and lifestyle choices, or as complicated as thyroid issues, diabetes, or other chronic diseases. Using diagnostic tools and tests along with symptoms the cause can be identified.
Why is it important to treat weight gain?
Being overweight has been linked to several serious health problems, complications and diseases. Fatigue, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, fatty liver, gallbladder issues, kidney issues, stroke, cancer, heart attack, depression/anxiety, just to name a few, are all associated with being overweight and being overweight can increase your chances of developing all of these conditions.
How is weight treated and controlled naturally?
Once the cause of obesity/weight gain has been identified, treatment is established on a individual basis for the patient. First and foremost...EDUCATION! I spend lots of time with my patients educating and explaining things to them so that they truly understand their body and how it functions. Treatment can include things such as vitamins, supplements, herbs, homeopathy and acupuncture that help with weight loss and address the root cause of the issue. Also nutrition and diet are discussed and patients are guided through how to make healthy choices and learn portion control. Exercise programs are implemented on an individual basis and are tailored to meet a patients specific needs. Also counselling is a huge element of treatment and especially if stress or emotions are a predominant cause of weight gain. Stress can cause weight gain by affecting a hormone called cortisol which then affects blood sugar regulation thus leading to weight gain (via something called insulin resistance).
Weight loss is best done under supervision and with proper guidance so that complications are avoided and supplements are taken properly. It is also important to set realistic goals so that goals can be reached and then maintained. Weight loss is all about creating a lifestyle that is sustainable in order to maintain the great results that you can achieve.
