Medical Weight Management

Both over and underweight can be underlying factors contributing to several health conditions that require rehabilitation such as musculoskeletal problems, cardiac cases, stroke, and functional disabilities.

Importance of weight management during rehabilitation

Overweight/Obesity

Overweight or obesity are directly related to several health conditions that require rehabilitation, which makes weight management a crucial factor in the rehabilitation journey. Here are some examples of such conditions:

• Musculoskeletal: Almost all musculoskeletal conditions are exacerbated due to extra weight. Due to extra pressure on joints and bones
• Cardiac cases and stroke: Since dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes are common comorbidities to cardiovascular disease and stroke, management of such comorbidities is best done through medical nutrition therapy under the supervision of a clinical dietitian
• Several other medical cases that require rehabilitation can improve with dietary therapy including weight management. Examples of such cases are multiple sclerosis, injuries, post-surgical cases, pulmonary, cancer, burns and others.

Etiology of weight gain:

Cultural and behavioral:

• Several times weight gain is caused by unhealthy habits, it could be eating habits or lifestyle habits such as lack of sleep and lack of activity
• Also, the consumption of highly processed food items with high caloric density is an important contemporary factor.
• Portion size have increased significantly over the past 3 decades. Restaurant meals are becoming bigger, food industry is making bigger packs and portions, and household meals are also becoming bigger

Health Condition, disease, or medications:

• Certain health conditions cause hormonal imbalance and may contribute to weight gain such as hypothyroidism, polycystic ovaries syndrome, or Cushing’s syndrome
• Eating disorders such as binge eating or bulimia may lead to over-weight or obesity starting teen age
• Low mood, depression and anxiety are important contributors to weight gain for some patients
• Also, certain medications, the most known ones are corticosteroids and insulin may cause weight gain
• Genetics and aging are other causes for weight gain.

Underweight

Underweight may also contribute to conditions that require rehabilitation such as musculoskeletal problems, injuries, and functional disabilities due to the below facts:

• People who are underweight are more prone to sickness due to possible nutritional deficiencies and a weaker immune system.
• They are at a higher risk of having certain injuries as compared to normal-weight people
• Also, they are at many times muscle deficient, a condition which makes them feel weaker and somehow less active

Etiology of weight deficiency:

• Disease or health-condition related: several diseases and health conditions contribute to un-intentional weight loss such as certain gastroenterological diseases, COPD, cancer, dementia, low mood or depression, heart failure, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, chronic kidney failure
• Eating disorders: certain conditions such as anorexia nervosa lead to severe weight loss
• Some drugs as well might contribute to loss of appetite
• In older age, over 70, it is common to have poor appetite or interest in food due to several factors such as poor dentition, depression, and lack of access to food items

Malnutrition

Malnutrition can be present in both over weight and underweight adults. It is usually characterized by un-intentional weight loss, poor appetite, muscle loss in particular around the eyes, and temples, and other body parts, and other signs and symptoms such as changes in the skin, hair, nails, and even and oral cavity and tongue.

It results in poor healing of injuries, and poor therapy outcomes in certain cases

Our services:

Our CRH dietary clinic addresses individual patient’s needs to improve his condition and quality of life . The clinical dietitian will carefully assess the patient’s condition through evaluating the following

• Anthropometry: including the height, weight, body composition
• Biochemical data
• Clinical assessment including medical history, nutrition focused medical exam, functional ability
• Dietary habits assessment using known validated dietary tools
• Other contributing environmental factors

Accordingly, a nutrition intervention is tailored to address the patient’s needs whether weight management or managing comorbidities such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension through medical nutritional therapy.

Results are monitored periodically

Our multi-disciplinary specialists of physicians, therapists, and pharmacists would work closely with the dietitian to achieve optimal results

Outcomes:

It has been proven and evidenced that medical nutrition therapy for weight and other health conditions can result in significant positive changes in quality of life and improve health in general