Every year, about 45 million Americans turn to diets to try to lose weight, a number the CDC says is rising. But despite those good intentions, roughly two-thirds of Americans still struggle with being overweight or obese, increasing their risks of serious medical problems.

For those who manage to drop those excess pounds, the struggle isn’t over. In fact, data show as many as 90% of people who lose a significant amount of weight wind up gaining most of it back.

But there is some good news. Medical weight loss programs provide a safe, effective alternative to traditional dieting on your own. At Spruce Health Group, our team works with patients to develop a medical weight-loss plan that works with their medical history and their lifestyle, so they can achieve their weight-loss goals and enjoy better health and wellness, too.

Why diets fail

Commercial diet plans are designed with the general population in mind. They need to use a very generalized approach to weight loss to attract the customers they need to sustain their profits. The problem with that approach is that different people lose weight differently. And plenty of people gain weight differently — or for different reasons.

Of course, your eating habits and physical activity play critical roles in weight management. But so do factors like your underlying health, nutritional profile, illnesses, age, and even your genetics.

Commercial diet plans aren’t designed to take those individual differences into account, and that means many of these diets just won’t work in helping you achieve and maintain a healthy goal weight.

Even if you lose weight initially using a commercial plan, you may struggle to keep those pounds off during the months and years that follow. Over time, multiple unsuccessful diets leave many people feeling frustrated and hopeless.

How medical weight loss works

Medical weight loss takes a different approach right from the start. Instead of the broad, one-size-fits-all approach of commercial diets, medical weight loss is entirely customized, based not just on your weight-loss goals but on your medical history, health and lifestyle needs, and nutritional profile.

Our team begins by evaluating your health history and performing an exam, sometimes accompanied by lab work. Nutritional assessments help identify deficiencies that could be driving unhealthy cravings or interfering with weight loss. Then, we’ll work with you to create a weight-loss plan designed for your success.

In addition to healthy eating and exercise focused on your preferences, your plan may include nutritional supplements and regular nutrient testing for optimal wellness. Every plan includes ongoing medical support to help you stay motivated and on track.

In addition to achieving a healthy weight, the overarching goals of your medical weight-loss plan are to help you adopt healthy behaviors you’ll want to maintain.

You can lose weight

Having a diet plan designed to work for your needs is essential to successfully losing weight and keeping it off. To learn how our team in Golden, Aurora, Thornton, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, can develop a plan to help you achieve your goals, call the office or book an appointment online today.