Atlanta Wellness Clinic Podcast

Medical Weight Loss: Beyond the Hype

• Catina Wilson • Episode 2

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How Do Medical Weight Loss Programs Differ From Traditional Diets?

Why do traditional diets fail so many of us? The answer lies in their one-size-fits-all approach that ignores our unique medical histories, lifestyle factors, and the complex biological processes driving weight gain. Nutritionist Catina Wilson dives deep into how medical weight loss programs fundamentally differ from conventional dieting, offering a refreshing perspective on sustainable weight management.

The conversation explores how healthcare professionals at Atlanta Wellness Clinic develop personalized treatment plans beginning with comprehensive assessments that uncover the root causes behind stubborn weight issues. Rather than relying solely on willpower, these programs combine prescription medications like GLP-1 agonists with consistent monitoring, accountability systems, and nutritional education. 

What truly sets medical weight loss apart is its emphasis on long-term success. Through weekly check-ins, regular body composition analyses, and personalized nutrition guidance, patients develop sustainable habits while losing weight. Ready to transform your relationship with your body? Visit online or call for a free consultation to learn how a medical weight loss program might be your path to lasting change.

To learn more about Atlanta Wellness Clinic visit:
https://www.ATLWellnessClinic.com
Atlanta Wellness Clinic
1827 Powers Ferry Rd. SE, Bldg 1 STE 250
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
770-726-8978

Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Atlanta Wellness Clinic podcast Hosted by licensed nutritionist and clinic owner, katina Wilson. We're here to kickstart your weight loss journey Because, let's be honest, the only thing we want gaining weight is our wallets. From medical weight loss and nutrition coaching to body contouring, we help Metro Atlanta women get real results. Let's dive in.

Speaker 2:

Are you wondering how medical weight loss programs stack up against traditional diets? Tune in, as Katina Wilson explains how medical weight loss programs are personalized and designed to address the root causes of weight gain, offering a substantial and sustainable approach compared to generic diets. Welcome back everyone. Millie M, co-host and producer, back in the studio with Katina Wilson. Katina, how's it going?

Speaker 3:

It's going well. How are you, Millie?

Speaker 2:

Doing well. I'm glad to hear that you're good. Everyone wants to know how do medical weight loss programs differ from traditional diets.

Speaker 3:

All right. Great question. Most people think of a diet they picture, a do-it-yourself approach, right? Or a self-guided approach. So maybe somebody's decided I'm going to cut out all the carbs, I'm going to try intermittent fasting or whatever the latest kind of self-help or popular diet book, right? So these traditional diets often rely on generalized advice as well as an individual's willpower, and so, while they can work, they often lack what one would call personalized guidance that support that medical oversight, right? So then, if you flip to medical weight loss programs, this is where things, I think, kind of get tailored and it's more scientific.

Speaker 3:

So with a medical weight loss program, they're typically overseen by a healthcare professional, like a doctor or a nurse practitioner or even a registered dietician. So, like here at Atlanta Wellness Clinic, we start with an assessment, right? So we want to look at the patient's medical history. We want to understand, like, what some of their current health concerns are, whether they're diabetic, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, that sort of a thing. We also want to understand, like, what their goals are. So how much weight are they wanting to lose, what kinds of diets have they tried before? And so what's crucial about these types of programs? It's really not a one size fits all, because, again, we have our doctors. We look at the medical history, we look at what a patient's goals are and then, based on all these different factors, our doctors will prescribe certain kinds of medications. It's not always the same for everybody, the dosing is not always the same for everybody, right?

Speaker 3:

So, again, that's where it really starts to get tailored. We check in every week. We do a body scan at the beginning, we do a body scan at the one month check-in, we do a body scan at the second and the third month as well, right. But we also check in every week, right, because part of it is we want to understand are you having success? Where are you struggling? And they need just that little bit of extra accountability.

Speaker 3:

We also provide, for all of our patients that signed up with us, a nutritional program, right. And so that nutritional program is really going to ensure that, in addition to the medicines, we're trying to help you instill some healthy habits, and so it's going to instill. These are the right kinds of foods to eat, the right things to do, and so, again, our approach really is about being balanced and as well as being holistic. So not only do we want to have the medicines that help get the weight off, but along the journey, we want to make sure that you've got the accountability and the support, but then that you start to pick up the right nutrition habits as well. So that's the difference, what I would say, between the traditional diet, do it yourself, versus a medical weight loss type program Sounds like a very well-rounded program getting out of that one-size-fits-all of diets.

Speaker 2:

So I know you take a person's medical history into consideration when you are helping them achieve their goals. But how do medical weight loss programs help people identify maybe underlying health issues that are contributing to weight gain that they didn't realize before?

Speaker 3:

That's really going to come down to the discussion between the patient and the doctor, right, the doctor is really going to ask, like all of those probing questions and really trying to understand what have you tried before, what's worked, what's not worked. Right, and again looking at that medical history and from there they can pinpoint what approach might be necessary, whether it's additional labs so that we can truly get to that underlying cause, or maybe whether it's something else. But it really is going to come down to the patient having that honest, open, candid conversation with the doctor asking all the right questions and the doctor doing as well.

Speaker 2:

So it's really a partnership. I always say always be open and honest with your doctor, because they're definitely there to help you. Can people with chronic conditions benefit from medical weight loss programs more than traditional diets?

Speaker 3:

I think it depends right and again, it's not one size fits all. It's all about having that conversation with the doctor. We tend to specialize in the GLP-1 medications but certain people, depending upon their chronic condition, that's not going to be the right approach for them. So, again, having that open and honest, candid conversation with the doctor, making sure they understand what's really going on with you, then it'll help steer you in the right direction and maybe there's a different program that's going to be more appropriate for that individual. So I think it just depends.

Speaker 3:

Do you mind explaining GLP-1 just for my own? Oh, glp-1s those are like the most popular medicines that we're hearing all about right now, right? So think kind of like the Ozempics or the Mangeros or the Cyndiglutide and the Trezapatides, right? These are all the medicines that you're hearing about, like all the Hollywood stars and everybody's taking and they're losing weight. We do have quite a few GOP1s that we leverage in clinic and most of our patients do qualify for those medicines. And again, as I've said in other podcasts, these medications are a tool, right, it's not meant to take the medicine and still continue those bad habits. It's a tool to help really kind of kickstart your weight loss journey. And, again, part of what we do is we provide that ongoing support, but we also try to provide that nutritional counseling and programming as well, so that, as you're going down this journey, you're instilling all these healthy habits.

Speaker 2:

So I'm assuming that's how you help people maintain that long-term maintenance of their weight loss.

Speaker 3:

Absolutely right, because I mean, who hasn't been on that roller coaster? Where you lose it, you gain it all back or, even worse, more than where you started. So our goal is to help people not only get the weight off, keep it off, look good, feel good, really feel confident in who they are Sounds good, as always.

Speaker 2:

Katina, that's some very informative and helpful information you gave us today. We'll dive in deeper even next time. Thanks again, we'll catch you on the next episode. Have a fantastic day.

Speaker 3:

Thank you, Mellie. Have a good day.

Speaker 1:

That's a wrap on this episode of the Atlanta Wellness Clinic podcast. If you're ready to kickstart your weight loss journey, and not just your bathroom scale and frustration, visit atlwellnesscliniccom or call us at 770-726-8978 for a free 10-minute weight loss consultation, because the best time to start was yesterday. The second best time right now. See you next time.