Need to know more about your weight loss options? Click here for your free informational guide.
For some, losing weight is a lifelong struggle. But there are ways to safely and effectively get rid of those unwanted pounds, according to obesity medicine specialist Dr. Devika Umashanker with the Hartford HealthCare Medical & Surgical Weight Loss Program.
Q: What should people know bout dietary supplements to lose weight?
A: Consumers should be cautious when purchasing dietary supplements. Dietary supplements do not need FDA approval prior to marketing their products. Therefore, they do not go through the rigorous safety measures required of prescription drugs. Dietary supplements can have hidden active ingredients contained in prescription drugs, unsafe ingredients that were in drugs that have been removed from the market due to severe side effects, or compounds that have not been adequately studied in humans. Before starting any dietary supplement, speak to your physician.
Q: What about vitamin deficiencies and the role of vitamin supplements. What is your recommendation?
Most of us eating a balanced diet do not need a daily multivitamin. However, there are situations where vitamin supplements are required. For example, women of childbearing age should supplement their diet with folic acid. Folic acid supplementation protects babies against fetal neural tube defects. Older adults, who are most often at increased risk for developing a condition called osteoporosis (weakening of bones) would benefit from vitamin D supplementation. Individuals with specific medical conditions related to their gut such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, or those who have had weight loss surgery such as Gastric bypass surgery – that interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins may require lifetime vitamin supplementation.
However, does taking a multivitamin daily considered to be harmful? Not at all but if you follow a healthy diet you can get all the vitamins and minerals you need from food.
Need to know more about your weight loss options? Click here for your free informational guide.
Q: What’s the best diet to lose weight and the science behind it?
In my opinion, there is no one diet that is the “best diet” to lose weight. Everyone is different. We all come from different cultural backgrounds and may be raised differently when it comes to food psychology. In my opinion, patients who have the best weight loss outcomes are those who adhere to a diet that gives them the least challenges with adherence. A study performed in JAMA 2014 compared multiple diet programs and found little difference in weight loss outcomes. This shows providers there is no need for one size fits all approach when it comes to the best diet. Rather, choosing the best diet suited to an individual’s food preferences may help foster diet adherence leading to long term weight loss.
Q: What advice do you have for patients wanting to lose weight on their own?
Weight loss is a lifelong journey. People need to be in the mindset of being willing to make some permanent lifelong changes in the way they live. Once people are in the “motivated” mindset speak to your physician for guidance on how to lose weight.
Need to know more about your weight loss options? Click here for your free informational guide.