Medical Solutions to Weight Loss - The Fine Print You Might Not be Aware Of

7 Apr

Recently an article about the obesity rates in Australia showed up in our inbox. Quickly, it became apparent this wasn’t just an article but a sales pitch for a company offering “medical solutions” for weight loss - primarily Bariatric Surgery and pharmaceuticals.

Recently an article about the obesity rates in Australia showed up in our inbox. Quickly, it became apparent this wasn’t just an article but a sales pitch for a company offering “medical solutions” for weight loss - primarily Bariatric Surgery and pharmaceuticals.

A review of the listed company and their educational resources showed absolutely no information on the long term consequences of any of these medical solutions.

However, I found it interesting to note that within their resources, there were numerous links for the Black Dog Institute regarding mental health. Although yes there is a link to depression and obesity, there is also a link to depression and mental health issues after “medical solutions” such as Bariatric Surgery. I’ll explain why below.

I’d like to preface by saying our Functional Nutritional Therapy practitioners are often approached by numerous clients suffering the aftermath of medical solutions to weight loss. By the time they visit us, weight loss has become low on their list of health concerns despite the fact many have not reached their goal weight. In fact many are coming for help with the long term consequences. Read more about working with an FNTP here.

Critically Important Concepts to Consider

No matter what “medical solution” a person may consider, there are two critically important concepts that are not being relayed as part of the informed consent process that I’m going to share now.

The body’s ability to digest nutrients is critical for the healthy structure and function of ALL body systems.

Healthy digestion is a cascade event. It takes the first step happening correctly (which happens in the brain) to initiate the next step and so on. So when these series of steps are disrupted, we end up with a cascade of dysfunction that eventually compounds into a whole constellation of devastating health issues.

This is not new information, it’s the same reason why long term use of acid suppressing medications and over the counter remedies are now coming under legal scrutiny.

As you inhibit the bodies ability to break down and absorb the nutrients critical for healthy function of ALL body systems, it is only a matter of time before chronically depleted bodies develop not only mental health issues but disease.

What about just taking a multivitamin supplement to fill this gap?

This is often a common recommendation associated with Medical Solutions to Weight Loss. The reason why they are termed supplements is because they are just that - a supplement. They can never replace the synergistic nature of nutrients found in whole real food. Based on client reports, Bariatric patients are often advised to just go pick something up at the corner store, however, most locally available supplementation is synthetic based which the body does not recognise. There are now available food based supplements but again, this does not replace the real thing or the bodies ability to digest them when that mechanism has been interrupted.

What about the theory outlined in the article around the body having a “set point” when it comes to weight loss? Well, if you are not being taught a complete and holistic approach to health it might be easy to come to that conclusion but weight loss resistance has far more to do with what else is hiding in your stress bucket that needs to be investigated and addressed.

We have been educated to believe that there is a “quick fix” to our health woes, that our bodies are broken and require medical intervention when the truth is our bodies are doing their best to communicate to us that something in our diet, lifestyle or way of thinking is not conducive to health.

When Did Commonsense Leave the Building?

When these medical interventions can cost anywhere up to $25,000 as a starting point and don’t factor in the costs associated with the long term consequences such as the possible impact on our livelihood or further medical costs in attempting to address the side effects - shouldn’t this be part of TRUE informed consent?

Only yesterday a new client arrived to tell me of his experience with being offered Wegovy. His doctor offered this as a solution to his creeping weight gain with no discussion on side effects and quickly wrote him out a prescription. Being a critical thinker he decided to do further research before filling the script. It did not take him long to discover the stunning and lengthy array of side effects.

He then went to his local chemist (aka pharmacist) and handed him the script, stating he wanted to ask a few questions. He then outlined what he discovered and asked if this was true, the chemist confirmed was correct…and then proceeded to ask him if he wanted to fill the script!

Let me ask you, at what stage did common sense leave the building when it comes to our health? At what stage did it become no longer a requirement to offer informed consent regarding any medication or procedure?

Resources

While you ponder these questions feel free to review the resources provided on some of the long term side effects of these “medical solutions” as well as how medicine is not a health care model but a business model.