Weight Management

What are the risks associated with overweight and obesity?

Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk for the following physical health conditions:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure 
• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
• Osteoarthritis
• Asthma
• Sleep apnea
• Some cancers
• Fertility problems

Overweight and obesity are also associated with increased risk for mental health conditions, including:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Addiction
• Low Self Esteem
• Trauma Related Disorders

Conversely, mental health problems increase risk for overweight and obesity by making it more difficult to engage in healthy self-care behaviors. For reasons that are not fully understood, a history of psychological trauma is a particularly strong risk factor for overweight and obesity. Stigma and discrimination against people with weight problems can lead to additional psychological trauma.

In addition, some psychiatric medications cause weight gain, leading some people to stop taking medications that are working for them. You shouldn’t have to choose between your mental and physical health, so we can help you manage your weight while staying on your medication.

Achieving a healthy weight reduces risk for all of these physical and mental health conditions, and increases vitality, well-being, and quality of life.

Why is it so hard for people with overweight and obesity to lose weight?  

At Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness, we understand that it can be incredibly difficult to lose weight without help. Evolution has designed our bodies to eat natural whole foods and to survive periods of starvation, not to resist a constant oversupply of cheap, ultra-processed, calorie dense foods aggressively marketed to us and served in huge portions. When we go on a diet and start to lose weight, our bodies naturally slow down our metabolism to conserve calories. We also start pumping out hormones that constantly tell our brain that we are starving and need to eat. These processes are entirely subconscious, so they are very hard to overcome.

For every 2 pounds lost, metabolism decreases by 20-30 calories per day, but appetite increases by 100 calories per day. Even if we manage to lose weight, our slowed metabolism and constant hunger make it extremely hard to keep it off. Studies show that 80-90% of us will gain it back and then some. This is due to biology, not laziness or lack of willpower.

Despite increasing knowledge about the pathophysiology of overweight and obesity, a high level of stigma and discrimination exists in society (and sadly, among many health care professionals) toward people with weight problems. Tremendous advances have occurred in the treatment of overweight and obesity in recent years, but most health care providers continue to give patients outdated advice that is often actually counterproductive rather than helpful. We can help.

What type of weight management support do you offer?

At Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness, your provider will perform a diagnostic evaluation to identify overweight or obesity and any mental health problems that might be contributing factors. They will learn about your diet and other lifestyle habits and assess your current state of health and fitness. They will order lab work to check levels of nutrients, thyroid hormone, blood sugar, cholesterol, electrolytes, and liver enzymes to assess for nutritional deficiencies and metabolic dysfunction that could be making it harder to manage your weight. They will then work with you to create an individualized treatment plan.

What does a treatment plan for weight management include?

Treatment plans can include mental health interventions, treatment of metabolic conditions, dietary changes, vitamins and supplements, exercise planning, sleep hygiene, stress management, and prescription weight loss medications. This holistic approach can help you achieve a healthy weight and optimal physical and mental health.  

Weight loss medication

Prescription medications can increase metabolism and regulate blood sugar and hormone levels to help your body release weight more easily. At Owl & Eagle we prescribe the most up-to-date weight loss medications including phentermine, semaglutide, tirzepatide, and peptides. These medications can help overcome the evolutionary adaptations that make it hard to lose weight, and can kick-start your weight loss journey.

Mental health interventions

If you have a mental health disorder we will work as a team to treat you. We can prescribe psychiatric medications, TMS, ketamine, psychotherapy, and other treatments to help you get better.

Even if you don’t have a mental health disorder, counseling can help you understand and change unhealthy thinking patterns, develop new perspectives, and increase self-efficacy and self-esteem. It can teach you strategies for improving emotional regulation, so you can adapt to challenges more effectively.   

Metabolic health management

Overweight and obesity can cause or contribute to metabolic disorders such as pre-diabetes, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and fatty-liver disease. These metabolic disorders can also make it much harder to lose weight. We can help you manage these conditions more effectively, so losing weight will be less of a struggle. Losing weight will also improve control of your metabolic conditions. This creates a positive cycle that can improve every aspect of your health and quality of life.

Lifestyle changes

A personalized nutritional program will help ensure that you get adequate nutrition to maintain health and energy level as you work toward a healthy weight. You will also receive guidance on how to increase overall activity level, improve sleep quality, and manage stress. When you are ready, we can develop an exercise plan to help improve your strength and cardiovascular fitness. Implementing these changes will push your weight loss into high gear and help with long-term weight management.

Maintenance

Once you have reached your healthy weight, we can help you stay there. Your Owl & Eagle nurse practitioners will follow up with you to reinforce your new skills and help avoid setbacks. When setbacks occur, they will be there to help you get back on track.

If you are interested in weight management at Owl & Eagle Health and Wellness, Contact Us with questions or Book Now to schedule an in-person or telehealth intake appointment today.