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Weight Management

Weight Management: Diet, Supplements, and Functional Medicine

Functional medicine offers a comprehensive approach to weight management by focusing on personalized dietary plans and supplements that address the root causes of weight gain and obesity. This article explores various strategies for effective weight management through diet, supplements, and lifestyle interventions from a functional medicine perspective.

Dietary Strategies for Weight Management

  1. Caloric Restriction and Low-Calorie Diets Long-term lifestyle interventions such as a 600 kcal/day deficit diet, low-calorie diets, and structured programs like Weight Watchers have been effective in preventing weight gain and improving morbidity in adults over a period of at least two years. These dietary strategies emphasize balanced nutrition and sustainable eating habits (Brown et al., 2009).

  2. High-Fiber Diets Hypocaloric high-fiber diets have been found to be effective in achieving weight loss and aiding in glycemic and lipid control in obese individuals with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Fiber-rich foods help promote satiety and regulate blood sugar levels (Hamilton et al., 1992).

  3. Behavioral Therapy and Diet Combining diet with behavior therapy, exercise, or both has shown significant improvements in weight management. These comprehensive approaches help modify eating behaviors, increase physical activity, and foster a supportive environment for sustained weight loss (Borges et al., 2012).

Role of Supplements in Weight Management

  1. Natural Supplements Natural dietary supplements such as (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA) from Garcinia cambogia and niacin-bound chromium(III) (NBC) have shown to be safe and efficacious for weight loss. These supplements influence gene expression related to weight management pathways, promoting fat loss and metabolic health (Lau et al., 2008).

  2. Probiotics and Omega-3 Fatty Acids Probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids have shown promise in managing weight by improving gut health and reducing inflammation. These supplements help balance gut microbiota and support metabolic functions, contributing to weight management (Heringer et al., 2023).

  3. Weight Loss Medications Weight loss medications such as orlistat, lorcaserin, liraglutide, phentermine/topiramate, and naltrexone/bupropion can provide additional benefits in the overall management of obesity. These medications are typically considered for individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m² or greater, or 27 kg/m² or greater with comorbidities, who have not succeeded with diet and activity modifications alone (Erlandson et al., 2016).

  4. Combination Therapy Combination regimens, including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, can lead to significant weight reduction when monotherapy with a single anti-obesity medication is not effective. These combinations can approach the weight loss achieved from bariatric surgery, providing a non-surgical option for significant weight reduction (Patel et al., 2022).

Conclusion

Effective weight management requires a multifaceted approach that includes dietary changes, supplements, behavioral therapy, and sometimes pharmacotherapy. Functional medicine emphasizes personalized plans that address the root causes of weight gain, promoting long-term health and sustainable weight loss. By integrating dietary strategies, natural supplements, and, when necessary, weight loss medications, individuals can achieve and maintain a healthy weight, improving their overall well-being.

References

  1. Brown, T., Avenell, A., Edmunds, L., Moore, H., Whittaker, V., Avery, L., & Summerbell, C. (2009). Systematic review of long-term lifestyle interventions to prevent weight gain and morbidity in adults. Obesity Reviews, https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-789X.2009.00641.x
  2. Hamilton, C. C., Geil, P., & Anderson, J. W. (1992). Management of Obesity in Diabetes Mellitus. The Diabetes Educator, https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/014572179201800507
  3. Borges, C. P., Coutinho, M., & Cardoso, A. (2012). Long-term follow-up of overweight and obese patients in primary care. Is nutrition intervention and lifestyle modification effective for sustained weight loss? Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1744-1161(12)70698-1
  4. Lau, F. C., Bagchi, M., Sen, C., Roy, S., & Bagchi, D. (2008). Nutrigenomic Analysis of Diet-Gene Interactions on Functional Supplements for Weight Management. Current Genomics, https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138920208784533638
  5. Heringer, P. N., Dias, M. C. B., Simões Tecchio, J. V., Melo, M. F., Figueiredo, M. S., Cabral, C. G., Costa, R. R. S., Araújo, C. S., Souza, S. P. M., Castor, M. H. M., & Ramos, F. F. (2023). New nutritional approaches in the management of inflammatory bowel diseases. Research and Education in Nutrition, https://dx.doi.org/10.51891/rease.v9i9.11155
  6. Erlandson, M., Ivey, L. C., & Seikel, K. (2016). Update on Office-Based Strategies for the Management of Obesity. American Family Physician, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27583422
  7. Patel, P. N., Fox, C., Bensignor, M. O., & Bomberg, E. (2022). Weight Loss From Combination Anti-Obesity Medication Regimens Can Approach that Achieved From Bariatric Surgery. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, https://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jcemcr/luac038
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