Are you suitable for weight management?
If you’re already on weight management treatment or have done your research, then click below to get started to see if you’re suitable. If you’d like further information, please keep reading below.
What is weight management?
Weight management can be defined as taking ownership of your weight and managing it to your own expectations and standards. Weight management could be applied to someone looking to increase, decrease or maintain their weight.
The majority of weight management stories, posts, articles etc. refer to the growing popularity of weight reduction medications. Weight reduction, or weight loss, refers to the reduction of body weight, typically through a combination of diet, exercise, and lifestyle modifications. It is often pursued for health reasons, such as reducing the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers, as well as improving overall well-being and quality of life. Sustainable weight loss involves making gradual and lasting changes to eating and exercise habits, as well as addressing emotional and behavioural factors that contribute to overeating or sedentary lifestyles.
Previously, medications to aid with weight reduction were steeped in poor practice, poor products and poor results… until a new class of medications arrived which would change the weight loss industry. These new medications have been clinically proven in robust clinical trials by pharmaceutical companies and third-party independent research groups to actively help reduce weight. They have approval from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.
But why choose a medication to aid your weight loss?
How many times have you heard “just eat less, move more”? It’s not always that easy for a lot of people. In fact, the majority of diets (over 65%) fail because people still feel hungry – you’re forcing yourself to starve your body – the food noise and cravings are still ever-present.
These weight loss medications are a synthetic hormone regulating the body’s natural hunger hormone, GLP-1. The release of GLP-1 acts on the receptors in the appetite-control section of the brain, reducing your appetite. It slows down gastric emptying, keeping you fuller for longer which further reduces your appetite.
It also helps your pancreas release just the correct amount of insulin to deal with your body’s glucogon, meaning it works differently for each person’s individual needs. This allows sugars and carbs to be broken down in an effective way without causing a “sugar crash”, which therefore avoids those quick-fix sugary cravings and a hunger for carbs. It also helps reduce leptin levels, which is a key hormone in causing a metabolism slow-down.
When you diet, your appetite does not shrink to match the dietary requirements. Portion control has a major impact on the ability of a person to effectively lose weight. With a suppressed appetite, you will naturally start eating smaller portions. Your stomach will start to shrink, effectively reducing the amount of food required to fill your stomach and the amount of food needed to appease your appetite.
Once you’re comfortable with the dietary side of things, you can begin to incorporate exercise into the programme. Weight management is not just a quick-fix. It comprises a holistic approach including nutrition & exercise. This is so that when you reach your goal weight, you can either keep the weight off naturally with healthy eating & light to moderate exercise, or progress onto a maintenance programme, ensuring you can get to your goal and sustain it for the long run.
