Northwest Indiana Medical Weight Management

More than 40 percent of Americans have become overweight or obese, and The United States holds the highest rate of obesity among all other high-income countries.

Heath Risks of Obesity

Obesity increases the risk of High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol, leading to Heart Disease, Diabetes, Prediabetes, Asthma, Sleep Apnea, Osteoarthrits, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Weight loss alone can improve some of these weight-related conditions, leading to improved general health. Calculating your BMI will be the first step in formulating a plan including recognition of and changes to eating habits, physical activity, common behaviors, and medications. Losing even just five percent of your weight may help to improve energy levels, increase your level of everyday activity, decrease pain during activity, and improve your overall mood.

What is BMI?

BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is a measure commonly used to assess whether a person has a healthy body weight in accordance with their height. BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by the square of their height in meters (BMI = weight in kg / (height in meters)^2).

The resulting number is then categorized into different ranges, typically as follows:

• Underweight: BMI < 18.5
• Normal weight: BMI between 18.5 – 24.9
• Overweight: BMI between 25 – 29.9
• Class 1 Obesity: BMI between 30 – 34.9
• Class 2 Obesity: BMI between 35 – 39.9
• Class 3 Obesity (Severe Obesity): BMI > 40

It’s important to note that while BMI is a widely used measure, it has some limitations. For example, it does not distinguish between weight from muscle and weight from fat, so individuals with a higher muscle mass may have a higher BMI even if they are not overweight or obese. Additionally, BMI does not take into account factors such as muscle mass, bone density, or distribution of fat, which can also influence health outcomes. Therefore, we use BMI as a screening tool rather than a definitive measure of an individual’s health status.

What is BMR?

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the amount of energy expended by the body at rest in order to maintain basic physiological functions such as breathing, circulation, and cell production. In other words, it represents the number of calories your body needs to sustain itself while at complete rest.

Several factors influence BMR, including:

1. Body composition: Muscle tissue burns more calories at rest compared to fat tissue, so individuals with more muscle mass tend to have a higher BMR.
2. Age: BMR typically decreases with age, as muscle mass tends to decrease and fat mass tends to increase.
3. Gender: Generally, men tend to have a higher BMR than women, partly due to differences in body composition.
4. Weight: Heavier individuals typically have a higher BMR because it takes more energy to maintain a larger body.
5. Height: Taller individuals tend to have a higher BMR because they have a larger surface area and, therefore, more body mass to maintain.

BMR is typically measured in calories per day. Knowing your BMR can be useful for estimating your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), which includes calories burned through physical activity and the thermic effect of food. This information can help in creating personalized nutrition and exercise plans for weight management or maintenance.

Calculating your BMR:

Calculating your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) involves using a formula that takes into account your weight, height, age, and gender. One of the commonly used formulas is the Mifflin-St Jeor Equation:

For men: BMR = 10 x weight (kg) + 6.25 x height (cm) – 5 x age (years) + 5

For women: BMR = 10 x weight (kg) + 6.25 x height (cm) – 5 x age (years) – 161

Here’s how to calculate your BMR using the Mifflin-St Jeor Equation:

1. Convert your weight from pounds to kilograms. (1 pound = 0.453592 kilograms)
2. Convert your height from inches to centimeters. (1 inch = 2.54 centimeters)
3. Use the appropriate equation based on your gender to calculate your BMR.

For example, let’s calculate the BMR for a 40-year-old woman who weighs 170 pounds and is 5 feet 5 inches tall:

1. Convert weight to kilograms: 170 pounds × 0.453592 = 77.11 kilograms
2. Convert height to centimeters: (5 feet × 12 inches/foot + 5 inches) × 2.54 = 165.1 centimeters
3. Use the equation for women: BMR = (10 × 77.11) + (6.25 × 165.1) – (5 × 40) – 161 so BMR = (771.1) + (1031.86) – (200) -161 = 1,441.96

So, the estimated BMR for this woman is approximately 1,442 calories per day

Keep in mind that this is just an estimate, and individual factors such as muscle mass and metabolism can affect your actual BMR.

How Does Medical Weight Management Work?

During your personalized consultation, Dr. Bell will carry out a comprehensive medical assessment including collecting information about your medical history and your goals. If medical weight management is deemed appropriate for you, in addition to dietary and exercise efforts as part of your weight loss plan, you will be given specific instructions on how to proceed and what to expect. You will have close follow up giving you and Dr. Bell the opportunity to make any adjustments to your plan in order for you to reach your goals. Let’s get you set up for success.

Non-Injectable weight loss options include:

• Lipo-C sublingual spray, semorolin oral tablets, and low-dose naltrexone combination therapy.
• GLP-1 RA oral tablets or sublingual dissolving tablets.
• GLP-1 RA plus GIP oral tablets or sublingual dissolving tablets.

Injectable weight loss options include:

• GLP-1 RA is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist. It mimics a hormone normally in the Gi system and works by regulating insulin release, preventing the liver from producing sugar, and causing a feeling of decreased appetite.
• GLP-1 RA plus GIP is a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist combined with glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), meaning that it also stimulates insulin secretion in response to ingested food. Studies have shown that GLP-1 RA may decrease inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease.
• Lipo-C injections are a combination of lipotropic agents that break down fats and cholesterols to use for energy and increase metabolism by improving cellular function. These lipotropic agents are compounded with Vitamin C, which is an essential nutrient with antioxidant properties that supports immune function, skin health, and collagen production.
• Lipo-B injections refer to a lipotropic injection or supplement containing a combination of amino acids, vitamins such as B-12, B-6, and B-Complex, and other nutrients that help to break down fat, improve metabolism, and increase energy production. Lipo-B injections can increase weight loss and support liver health.
• MIC injections stand for a combination injection of Methionine, Inositol, and Choline injection, which aid in weight loss and are a supplement for liver health. Methionine is an essential amino acid that plays a role in metabolism and helps to break down fats in the liver. Inositol is a nutrient that supports various functions in the body, including fat metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Choline is a nutrient important for liver health and lipid metabolism.
• L-Carnitine injection is a naturally occurring amino acid derivative that is often taken as a dietary supplement because it plays a crucial role in the metabolism of fat by transporting fatty acids into the mitochondria of cells, where they are oxidized to produce energy. Because of this role in fat metabolism, L-carnitine supplements are often used for weight loss and athletic performance.

Get To A Healthy Weight Today

If you’ve struggled to get to your healthiest weight, medical weight management at BeYou Med Spa & Wellness may be exactly what you need to jump-start your plan for improved health. With a personalized plan, our team can help you attain your objectives successfully!