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Dr. Gamboa

weight loss medications: which one is right for you?

weight loss
Weight Loss Medication

Maintaining a healthy weight for one’s body type, frame, and lifestyle promotes overall good health including lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure, and is also known to lower the possibility of many different cancers.

We have heard it all before – To achieve an ideal weight and to be healthy, it is important to burn the same number of calories as we eat and drink.  To lose weight, it makes sense then, that we must burn more calories than we consume.  It is not necessarily about dieting as much as it is about eating well.  At Elite Care Clinic, you may often hear Dr. Gamboa talk about the importance of meal prep, stocking your pantry with wholesome options and ingredients that will allow you to whip up something delicious and nutritious, and cutting out fast food and soda completely. To eat well, we must be mindful of what we consume, from where the food is derived (is it organic, whole food, or processed, pre-packaged food) and sometimes, downright discipline.  Here are some tips about maintaining a healthy diet.

5 Ways to Maintain a Healthy Diet

  • Eating lots of vegetables and fruit.
  • Choosing whole grain foods
  • Eating protein foods
  • Limiting highly and ultra-processed foods
  • Making water your drink of choice. Water supports health and promotes hydration without adding calories to the diet.

It is no mystery that exercise, and daily activity promotes wellness on many levels such as:

  • Aiding in weight control
  • Reducing the risk of heart disease
  • Managing blood sugar and insulin levels
  • Helping you quit smoking(please quit smoking & vaping!)
  • Improving your mental health and mood
  • Helps you keep your thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp as you age.

But Nothing is Working

Relative to weight loss and maintenance:  diet & exercise are key.  But what if you are already doing all of that, but have been battling weight gain for most of your life?  Studies show that the strength of the genetic influence on weight disorders varies quite a bit from person to person. Science suggests that for some people, genes account for just 25% of the predisposition to be overweight, while for others the genetic influence is as high as 70% to 80%.  That is a big number, and even when you are doing all the right things, sometimes losing weight requires what we refer to has physician-led or medical weight loss.

Dr. Gamboa is certified in obesity medicine and an expert in the field of medical weight loss.  She will guide you as you navigate the weight loss journey together beginning with:

  • Consultation
  • Examination
  • Lab Work | Blood Tests
  • Designing a meal plan that is right for you
  • Recommending a exercise routine that is right for you
  • On occasion, prescription weight loss medication

Weight Loss Medications:  Which one is right for you?

Let us talk about weight loss medication for a moment.  There are several you may have read about but these are the 3 most common weight loss medications and brief descriptions that define the differences between all.

Contrave has been shown to improve weight loss as well as triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Because bupropion is often used as an antidepressant, it can also help those with obesity and depression. Notable side effects of the drug include nausea and constipation.

Liraglutide, combined with lifestyle counseling, produces a clinically significant and sustained weight loss that continues as long as it is used. Nausea and vomiting, however, are common adverse effects.  Saxenda (liraglutide) is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It works by increasing feelings of being full and decreasing hunger in the brain. This can lead to eating fewer calories and losing weight.

Qsymia is composed of two different active ingredients, phentermine and topiramate. Phentermine begins to take effect immediately and works as an appetite suppressant, which helps patients control their hunger right away.

Each are different and serve a unique purpose.  At Elite Care Clinic our focus is on the whole person, integrated care.  One size does not fit all.  If you battle weight gain, feel deprived and on a perpetual rollercoaster ride of dieting, losing, and gaining more weight than where you started, you may be a candidate for medical weight loss treatment.  If you feel you can benefit from and want to learn more about weight loss medications, we encourage you to schedule a virtual consultation with Dr. Gamboa today.

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