Functional medicine doctors take a comprehensive approach to weight loss, addressing factors such as hormone balance, gut health, inflammation, metabolism, and nutritional deficiencies. They aim to identify and treat underlying issues contributing to weight gain, rather than simply focusing on calorie restriction or exercise alone.
Unlike what some less-than-reputable sources may imply, it isn’t laziness or a lack of willpower that holds you back. Hypothyroidism, for example, slows down your metabolism, making it harder to lose weight even after you’ve adjusted your diet and cut back on your favorite foods. The reduced estrogen levels characteristic of menopause can have the same effect, contributing to weight gain while also bringing fatigue and poor sleep. With less energy, you’re less motivated to exercise.
An imbalanced gut, on the other hand, may extract and absorb more calories from the food you eat than it should. Typically, the gut only absorbs almost 95% of the calories you consume, but the exact amount varies based on your unique gut microbiome. Going even further, the body uses a portion of those calories directly to aid in digestion. The type of food you eat matters; your body uses far more calories to process and digest protein than it does for carbohydrates or fats, but all 3 macronutrients are still crucial to a balanced diet.
Feel like that’s a lot to take in? That’s because it is. Your body is more interconnected than you might think, and that’s the pinnacle of functional medicine. At Heal n Cure, we look at all these potential underlying factors and more to remove barriers and put success within reach. Schedule a discovery call and we can share more about our clinic’s approach to medical weight loss treatment in Glenview.
