More than half of American adults (52%) say they want to lose weight, according to a recent study. One of the areas people often focus on first is changing their diet. However, diet isn’t always enough to maintain ongoing progress.
At Vitality Center of Charlotte, Michael Trombley, MD, and Richard Boulware, PA-C, offer medically guided weight loss. This article highlights seven effective strategies beyond diet for losing weight and keeping it off.
If you’re trying to lose weight but can’t make significant progress, an underlying medical issue could affect your results. Conditions such as hypothyroidism, hormone imbalances, and insulin resistance all impact metabolism and can affect how your body turns food into energy.
A metabolic evaluation can identify these and other issues. In many cases, once we establish a treatment plan, losing weight becomes easier.
Losing weight through natural methods isn’t always possible. Sometimes, the body needs an assist, which is where prescription medications come in. We regularly prescribe medications to support people’s weight loss efforts. These include:
When used alongside healthy lifestyle changes, many patients report positive results.
Men and women experience hormonal changes in middle age. Women go through perimenopause and menopause, while men may experience low testosterone (low-T).
We offer several treatments to help address these changes. For example, hormone replacement therapy for women focuses on restoring estrogen and progesterone levels to relieve symptoms such as hot flashes, brain fog, and sleep disturbances.
Testosterone replacement therapy, on the other hand, increases testosterone levels to address symptoms of low-T, including erectile dysfunction, low sex drive, and fatigue.
Exercise is important for maintaining muscle mass and aging well. It can also help you lose weight by burning excess calories and supporting your metabolism.
Aim to get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. You don’t need to join a gym or push yourself to the extreme. The goal is to build a habit that aligns with your current fitness level and health.
We recommend starting with something easy, such as walking or cycling. Over time, you can increase the intensity level and add other components to test yourself.
Diet and exercise affect your weight loss results, but they aren’t the only things that matter. Your lifestyle is just as important, including your sleep habits, stress levels, and mental health.
If you don’t get enough sleep, you won’t have enough energy to work out, and if you’re stressed all the time, having the necessary discipline to lose weight won’t be a priority.
We can help you stay on track by offering behavioral and lifestyle support. Depending on your needs, that might mean a referral to a counselor or teaming up with a sleep specialist.
Peptide therapy is a relatively new treatment that uses short chains of amino acids called peptides to support various bodily processes.
For weight loss, peptide therapy may help regulate your appetite and support fat loss.
Maintaining weight loss takes time and effort. While it can be tempting to achieve your goals alone, routine checkups with our caring team can make it easier to stay on track.
Regular checkups offer an effective way to monitor your progress and address challenges as they arise. They also present an opportunity to ask questions and adjust your treatment plan for maximum results.
If you’re tired of struggling to lose weight, contact Vitality Center of Charlotte today. Call our office in Charlotte, North Carolina, or request your appointment online.
