Medically Supervised Weight Loss: When And Why Some People Should Not Diet Alone

Dieting to reach the optimum weight is one of the best ways to improve overall health. Overweight people face higher risks of diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer. Losing weight is not easy, and even an otherwise healthy individual can struggle with the process. Someone who has decided they are ready to be thin, can make poor choices in an attempt to lose the weight faster. This can harm their health, and sabotage their efforts. For many, their health conditions or specific circumstances can make these poor diet choices even more dangerous. This is when medical supervision is strongly suggested.

Special Medical Concerns

Medical supervision is necessary when someone has preexisting health concerns like diabetes, food allergies or high blood pressure. Diabetics can only go without food for a certain length of time, and need to be careful amount consuming the right amount of protein to maintain a safe blood sugar level. Curbing salt intake is important for hypertension, but many diet foods replace fat with extra sodium for flavor. People with food allergies or sensitivities may have a hard time creating a varied and balanced meal plan because of the products they must avoid.

Children and Teenagers

Currently, almost 1 in 3 American children between the ages of 5-11 is considered overweight. Not only are these children not learning proper nutrition, they are developing health conditions that will plague them later in life. The problem is that children cannot just diet. They need a certain amount of calories and nutrients to help them to grow properly. Starvation diets, or focusing on weight loss just to look better, can also cause some children to develop eating disorders. Under the care of their pediatrician, they can see it for what it really is; a health concern. In addition, there is the reassurance that their meal plans will be properly balanced.

Extreme Weight Loss

Losing 5-10 pounds, or even a little more, is usually a safe goal that people can reach on their own with a few less snacks and additional exercise. People who have 50 or more pounds will often need more help. Many people who are obese have been inactive for a long period of time. They need to be certain they are healthy enough to exercise, and even to restrict their calories. People who have a lot of weight to lose, may be tempted to seriously restrict their food intake to reach their goal faster. Losing too much weight too fast can cause muscle tone to be loss, and the body may not be get the nutrients it needs.

Overseeing Vegetarian Diets

It may surprise some non-vegetarians that anyone already on this type of restricted diet would even need to lose weight. The problem is that not eating meat does not mean people will not overeat carbs, a sure way to pack on extra pounds. When someone is already not eating meat, eggs and dairy, it can be difficult for them to get the calcium, protein and vitamins and minerals they need. This becomes even more risky when they are not as educated as they should be about nutrition, and they are determined to weigh less.

Healthy weight loss will help people to look better, feel better and be healthier overall. Unfortunately, fad diets and restricted diet plans can harm the person attempting them. This can lead to malnutrition, and the difficulty of maintaining the diet can have the effect of causing people to return to their bad habits. Many who do backslide will regain the weight lost, plus a few additional pounds. A physician supervised diet plan will avoid these negative side effects, by monitoring the dieter's health and providing emotional support. 

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