Obesity has become a worldwide epidemic that continues to rage at an alarming rate. According to a recent article from the Harvard School of Public Health, roughly 500 million adults are obese (defined as a body mass index, or BMI, of 30 or higher). The number of obese adults is nearly double the rate of obesity in 1980. The unfortunate reality is that being overweight or obese has frightening consequences.
Overweight individuals have an increased risk of many serious diseases and health conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and many types of cancers. In addition to the numerous medical conditions, being overweight or obese can have detrimental effects on one’s quality of life. It can also lead to mental illness including clinical depression, anxiety and other mental disorders.
This global issue is the reason Dr. Beatriz H. Porras, Medical Director of Skin Diagnostics Laser & Rejuvenation, decided to incorporate a medical weight loss program into her practice. “We want to help people look better, feel better and live long and healthy lives,” Dr. Porras says. “Every person is unique, and it is my goal to help develop a plan that works for the individual person.”
When Dr. Porras initially meets with her patients, she conducts a consultation that involves first measuring their BMI. From there she can determine goals to help a patient reach a healthy weight for their body. The consultation addresses the person’s lifestyle, job, eating habits and exercise routine. “It can be very easy to fall prey to poor eating habits with easily accessible fast food,” Dr. Porras says. “It is important for me to understand the individual and help create a weight loss plan that incorporates achievable goals.”
For patients to be successful, Dr. Porras intentionally creates an individualized plan that includes a diet that is conducive to each person, a workout plan that includes exercise that they will enjoy, and in certain cases, medication, as well as procedures to help in circumstances when diet and exercise alone are not enough.
One device that works wonders for burning localized fat and building and toning muscles is the Emsculpt Neo. It uses radio frequency to help lose fat and electromagnetic energy to build muscle. This is especially helpful for women after pregnancy because a woman’s stomach muscles change during pregnancy. Even someone who is physically fit can have difficulty regaining their prepregnancy body shape without the help of such devices. The EmSculpt Neo consists of eight treatments, twice a week for four consecutive weeks. The best results are seen after three months, and people can return for additional treatments after six months for upkeep.
Medications can also be a powerful tool for weight loss, especially when a person cannot achieve desired results through diet and exercise alone. Dr. Porras has successfully prescribed Semaglutide, an FDA-approved weight loss injection that has helped many in their weight loss journeys. When using any medication or injection, it is important to understand all the benefits and potential side effects. This is why it is imperative to work with an experienced healthcare provider who can navigate the correct course of treatment.
It is also vital to take the necessary vitamins and supplements when incorporating a new weight loss regimen, Dr. Porras says.
As a society, we tend to hyperfocus on weight loss to feel better about our outward appearance, but it is important to understand how reaching and maintaining a certain body weight allows us to stay healthier, physically and mentally, and able to live more active and fulfilled lives. This can be a difficult journey to achieve alone, which is why healthcare providers like Dr. Porras are a crucial part of one’s weight loss journey.
Want to learn more about the personalized medical weight loss program Dr. Beatriz Porras offers at Skin Diagnostics Laser & Rejuvenation? Call 513-631-0059 or visit their website at Cincinnatiskinlaser.com for additional information. Skin Diagnostics& Laser Rejuvenation is located at 9201 Montgomery Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45242.