Weight Management

Obesity is a chronic condition that raises your risk of disease, illness, and other health complications. Carrying excess weight adds stress to nearly every function in your body, from your cardiovascular and respiratory systems to your joints. Your body must work harder than it should to maintain healthy oxygen levels, blood circulation, and movement.

Weight management minimizes your risk of chronic diseases that often accompany obesity. At Innovation Medical Group Southwest Territory, your primary care team works with your body, lifestyle, and diet to ensure you achieve healthy, sustainable weight loss.

Obesity affects nearly two-thirds of American adults, raising their risk of developing:

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

CAD occurs when plaque clogs your arteries and restricts healthy blood flow to your heart. Poor diet and inactivity are two of the most common causes of CAD. Without treatment, CAD increases your risk of stroke and heart attack.

Stroke

A stroke is a potentially serious health complication that occurs when blood doesn’t circulate to your brain properly. Strokes are life-threatening and can affect your facial muscles, speech, and balance and coordination. High blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes increase your risk of stroke.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory condition in which the cartilage surrounding your joints breaks down. Carrying excess weight puts pressure on your joints, which can accelerate the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes occurs when your blood sugar levels are too high. Insulin, a hormone the pancreas produces to help your cells use sugar for energy, doesn’t function properly if you have Type 2 diabetes. As a result, sugar can build in your blood and damage your blood vessels and nerves.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

OSA is a sleep disorder that causes repeated pauses in breath. The most common type of sleep apnea, OSA happens when the muscles that control breathing relax, causing the tissue in the back of your throat to collapse. Loud snoring, sore throat, and morning grogginess are telltale symptoms of sleep apnea.

The Innovation Medical Group Southwest Territory team performs a careful evaluation to design your individualized weight management plan, which may include:

• Thyroid testing
• Food allergy testing
• Dietary changes
• Lifestyle modifications
• Smoking cessation
• Increasing exercise
• Supplements
• Vitamin B12 injections