A primary care clinic can guide you through the changes that you need to make to have a healthy lifestyle. One way that primary healthcare providers can help with lifestyle changes is weight loss management. They will use their medical knowledge to craft effective weight loss plans that can yield results in the short and long term.
How a primary care clinic positions itself to offer nutrition and weight loss treatment
A clinic or practice that offers primary care typically serves patients of different demographics. Such a clinic will have an internist or general practitioner on staff. Alternatively, the clinic could have nurse practitioners as the primary healthcare providers.
Primary care clinics treat injuries, diseases, and chronic conditions that pose little immediate risk to patients’ lives. They also offer preventative care in the form of monitoring and health screening. Preventative care also includes nutrition and weight loss programs supervised by primary care providers.
An essential role of the primary care provider is to coordinate treatment when their patients need to see one or more specialists. This holds true for a primary physician overseeing their patient’s weight loss program. The doctor will consult with a nutritionist or dietician to craft a diet plan that fosters healthy eating habits. They will also bring in a person who can coach their patient toward a more active lifestyle. Most importantly, the physician will consult an expert in behavior modification. This is along with any medical interventions that the physician may prescribe.
What the average weight-loss program looks like
The ideal outcome of a weight loss program should yield results that last for a long time. This means patients should transform their relationship with food, physical activity, and habits. Changing these integral parts of daily life requires a shift in mindset and behavior.
Primary care physicians will consult with nutritionists and behavior coaches to craft custom programs for their patients. A doctor will factor in their patient’s daily routine and health requirements to create an effective weight loss plan. To boost the efficacy of diet and behavior change, the doctor may prescribe medical interventions.
1. Weight loss medication
There are three broad categories of weight loss medication, and each type has a different effect on the patient’s physiology:
- Certain kinds of weight-loss medication suppress the appetite
- Other types cause a person to satiate (get full) after eating very little
- The third kind of medication prevents the body from absorbing certain nutrients, like fats
Weight loss medication is not for everyone, and a primary health physician will only choose safe options for an individual. These medications are not a standalone treatment; they only boost the efforts of diet and exercise.
2. Non-surgical weight loss procedures
Endoscopic weight-loss procedures involve reducing the size of the stomach with minimally invasive treatments. The procedures are brief, require little anesthetic, and take place in an outpatient setting. A physician needs training and certification in gastrointestinal endoscopy to perform this type of procedure. The most popular of these non-surgical endoscopic treatments are as follows.
Gastric balloon
The gastric balloon takes up space in the stomach, which enables the patient to get full after eating small portions. A qualified doctor uses a thin tube with a fiber-optic camera to see inside their patient’s stomach and place the balloon. The doctor will administer an anesthetic before inserting the endoscope and balloon through the patient’s mouth.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty
This procedure reduces the size of the stomach by “sealing off” sections of the stomach with stitches. Like the gastric balloon, a qualified doctor will use a thin tube with a camera to see inside the patient’s stomach. They will use a second tool to suture sections of the stomach shut.
Turn your weight-loss journey toward success
Our primary care clinic has a team that consists of a doctor, a nutritionist, and a behavioral coach. Together, they can craft a personalized weight loss program that considers your needs. Get in touch with our North Las Vegas office to find out more.
Request an appointment here: https://encompasscarelv.com or call Encompass Care at (702) 514-4295 for an appointment in our North Las Vegas office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Primary Care Clinic in North Las Vegas, NV.
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