Medical Weight Loss: Beyond the Hype

How Do Medical Weight Loss Programs Differ From Traditional Diets?

Why do traditional diets fail so many of us? The answer lies in their one-size-fits-all approach that ignores our unique medical histories, lifestyle factors, and the complex biological processes driving weight gain. Nutritionist Catina Wilson dives deep into how medical weight loss programs fundamentally differ from conventional dieting, offering a refreshing perspective on sustainable weight management.

The conversation explores how healthcare professionals at Atlanta Wellness Clinic develop personalized treatment plans beginning with comprehensive assessments that uncover the root causes behind stubborn weight issues. Rather than relying solely on willpower, these programs combine prescription medications like GLP-1 agonists with consistent monitoring, accountability systems, and nutritional education. 

What truly sets medical weight loss apart is its emphasis on long-term success. Through weekly check-ins, regular body composition analyses, and personalized nutrition guidance, patients develop sustainable habits while losing weight. Ready to transform your relationship with your body? Visit online or call for a free consultation to learn how a medical weight loss program might be your path to lasting change.

To learn more about Atlanta Wellness Clinic visit:
https://www.ATLWellnessClinic.com
Atlanta Wellness Clinic
1827 Powers Ferry Rd. SE, Bldg 1 STE 250
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
770-726-8978

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the Atlanta Wellness Clinic podcast
Hosted by licensed nutritionistand clinic owner, katina Wilson.
We're here to kickstart yourweight loss journey Because,
let's be honest, the only thingwe want gaining weight is our
wallets.
From medical weight loss andnutrition coaching to body
contouring, we help MetroAtlanta women get real results.

(00:24):
Let's dive in.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Are you wondering how medical weight loss programs
stack up against traditionaldiets?
Tune in, as Katina Wilsonexplains how medical weight loss
programs are personalized anddesigned to address the root
causes of weight gain, offeringa substantial and sustainable
approach compared to genericdiets.
Welcome back everyone.
Millie M, co-host and producer,back in the studio with Katina

(00:56):
Wilson.
Katina, how's it going?

Speaker 3 (00:59):
It's going well.
How are you, Millie?

Speaker 2 (01:01):
Doing well.
I'm glad to hear that you'regood.
Everyone wants to know how domedical weight loss programs
differ from traditional diets.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
All right.
Great question.
Most people think of a dietthey picture, a do-it-yourself
approach, right?
Or a self-guided approach.
So maybe somebody's decided I'mgoing to cut out all the carbs,
I'm going to try intermittentfasting or whatever the latest
kind of self-help or populardiet book, right?
So these traditional dietsoften rely on generalized advice

(01:33):
as well as an individual'swillpower, and so, while they
can work, they often lack whatone would call personalized
guidance that support thatmedical oversight, right?
So then, if you flip to medicalweight loss programs, this is
where things, I think, kind ofget tailored and it's more
scientific.
So with a medical weight lossprogram, they're typically

(01:54):
overseen by a healthcareprofessional, like a doctor or a
nurse practitioner or even aregistered dietician.
So, like here at AtlantaWellness Clinic, we start with
an assessment, right?
So we want to look at thepatient's medical history.
We want to understand, like,what some of their current
health concerns are, whetherthey're diabetic, pre-diabetes,
high blood pressure, cholesterol, that sort of a thing.

(02:16):
We also want to understand,like, what their goals are.
So how much weight are theywanting to lose, what kinds of
diets have they tried before?
And so what's crucial aboutthese types of programs?
It's really not a one size fitsall, because, again, we have
our doctors.
We look at the medical history,we look at what a patient's
goals are and then, based on allthese different factors, our

(02:37):
doctors will prescribe certainkinds of medications.
It's not always the same foreverybody, the dosing is not
always the same for everybody,right?
So, again, that's where itreally starts to get tailored.
We check in every week.
We do a body scan at thebeginning, we do a body scan at
the one month check-in, we do abody scan at the second and the
third month as well, right.
But we also check in every week, right, because part of it is

(02:59):
we want to understand are youhaving success?
Where are you struggling?
And they need just that littlebit of extra accountability.
We also provide, for all of ourpatients that signed up with us,
a nutritional program, right.
And so that nutritional programis really going to ensure that,
in addition to the medicines,we're trying to help you instill
some healthy habits, and soit's going to instill.

(03:20):
These are the right kinds offoods to eat, the right things
to do, and so, again, ourapproach really is about being
balanced and as well as beingholistic.
So not only do we want to havethe medicines that help get the
weight off, but along thejourney, we want to make sure
that you've got theaccountability and the support,
but then that you start to pickup the right nutrition habits as
well.
So that's the difference, whatI would say, between the

(03:41):
traditional diet, do it yourself, versus a medical weight loss
type program Sounds like a verywell-rounded program getting out
of that one-size-fits-all ofdiets.

Speaker 2 (03:51):
So I know you take a person's medical history into
consideration when you arehelping them achieve their goals
.
But how do medical weight lossprograms help people identify
maybe underlying health issuesthat are contributing to weight
gain that they didn't realizebefore?

Speaker 3 (04:07):
That's really going to come down to the discussion
between the patient and thedoctor, right, the doctor is
really going to ask, like all ofthose probing questions and
really trying to understand whathave you tried before, what's
worked, what's not worked.
Right, and again looking atthat medical history and from
there they can pinpoint whatapproach might be necessary,
whether it's additional labs sothat we can truly get to that

(04:27):
underlying cause, or maybewhether it's something else.
But it really is going to comedown to the patient having that
honest, open, candidconversation with the doctor
asking all the right questionsand the doctor doing as well.

Speaker 2 (04:43):
So it's really a partnership.
I always say always be open andhonest with your doctor,
because they're definitely thereto help you.
Can people with chronicconditions benefit from medical
weight loss programs more thantraditional diets?

Speaker 3 (04:51):
I think it depends right and again, it's not one
size fits all.
It's all about having thatconversation with the doctor.
We tend to specialize in theGLP-1 medications but certain
people, depending upon theirchronic condition, that's not
going to be the right approachfor them.
So, again, having that open andhonest, candid conversation
with the doctor, making surethey understand what's really
going on with you, then it'llhelp steer you in the right

(05:14):
direction and maybe there's adifferent program that's going
to be more appropriate for thatindividual.
So I think it just depends.
Do you mind explaining GLP-1just for my own?
Oh, glp-1s those are like themost popular medicines that
we're hearing all about rightnow, right?
So think kind of like theOzempics or the Mangeros or the
Cyndiglutide and theTrezapatides, right?
These are all the medicinesthat you're hearing about, like

(05:35):
all the Hollywood stars andeverybody's taking and they're
losing weight.
We do have quite a few GOP1sthat we leverage in clinic and
most of our patients do qualifyfor those medicines.
And again, as I've said inother podcasts, these
medications are a tool, right,it's not meant to take the
medicine and still continuethose bad habits.
It's a tool to help really kindof kickstart your weight loss

(06:01):
journey.
And, again, part of what we dois we provide that ongoing
support, but we also try toprovide that nutritional
counseling and programming aswell, so that, as you're going
down this journey, you'reinstilling all these healthy
habits.

Speaker 2 (06:09):
So I'm assuming that's how you help people
maintain that long-termmaintenance of their weight loss
.

Speaker 3 (06:15):
Absolutely right, because I mean, who hasn't been
on that roller coaster?
Where you lose it, you gain itall back or, even worse, more
than where you started.
So our goal is to help peoplenot only get the weight off,
keep it off, look good, feelgood, really feel confident in
who they are Sounds good, asalways.

Speaker 2 (06:33):
Katina, that's some very informative and helpful
information you gave us today.
We'll dive in deeper even nexttime.
Thanks again, we'll catch youon the next episode.
Have a fantastic day.

Speaker 3 (06:42):
Thank you, Mellie.
Have a good day.

Speaker 1 (06:48):
That's a wrap on this episode of the Atlanta Wellness
Clinic podcast.
If you're ready to kickstartyour weight loss journey, and
not just your bathroom scale andfrustration, visit
atlwellnesscliniccom or call usat 770-726-8978 for a free
10-minute weight lossconsultation, because the best

(07:09):
time to start was yesterday.
The second best time right now.
See you next time.