Weight management is a deeply personal and often emotionally charged journey, and it's a key reason why many people turn to us for support.
The desire to achieve a healthier weight can stem from a variety of motivations, ranging from concerns about overall wellbeing to the pursuit of a more active and fulfilling lifestyle. Maybe you want to feel more energized throughout the day or comfortably play on the floor with your children.
It's important to acknowledge that body dissatisfaction is a complex and subjective feeling. The prevalence of body dissatisfaction is hard to quantify but it’s been reported in anywhere from 20% to 90% of adults¹.
This is where the guidance of a qualified functional medicine practitioner can be transformative.
The aspiration to lose weight is not inherently "bad." It may be a reflection of your aspirations to feel more comfortable in your own skin, enhance your self-esteem, or experience a sense of vitality and confidence. However, the methods employed to attain these goals can sometimes lead to frustrating or futile efforts at best, and at worst, dangerous territory.
Your desire to lose weight is unique to you and you deserve the support and guidance to make this journey safe and successful!
With Birchwell, you can embark on a journey that not only helps you achieve your weight-related goals but also fosters a deep sense of self-compassion and long-lasting, sustainable health improvements.
We can help you explore the intricacies of your unique situation, uncovering potential barriers to successful weight management while prioritizing your safety and well-being.
Individuals who are overweight not only face increased rates of all-cause mortality but also heightened risks for conditions such as Type 2 Diabetes, coronary heart disease, osteoarthritis, and sleep apnea, among others⁴.
Furthermore, there's a noticeable rise in the prevalence of kidney, gallbladder, pancreas diseases, fatty liver disease, certain cancers, and challenges related to fertility and sexual dysfunction⁴.
Carrying extra weight can also increase the risk of pregnancy complications, especially gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and high blood pressure⁵.
Studies show that there is a link between your weight and health outcomes
Weight gain is a complex issue that often serves as a red flag for underlying metabolic dysfunction, particularly related to blood sugar control. The metabolism refers to all the chemical processes included in activities like digestion, eliminating waste and repairing cells². Basically, metabolism is the series of chemical processes that keep you alive and well!
At some point, you’ve probably heard some well-meaning aunt say, “You’re just blessed (or cursed) with a good (or bad) metabolism”. What we’ve gotten wrong about metabolism for so long is that we’re not just gifted with a “good” or “bad” metabolism, nor can we drink enough apple cider vinegar to significantly change anything.
How metabolism shapes your weight
But, we can influence metabolism by regulating our blood sugar.
When blood sugar regulation falters, it can lead to a cascade of health problems like hormone imbalances, fatigue, inflammation, thyroid problems, brain fog, and poor immunity . All of these factors make it really hard to lose weight and underlie many chronic diseases.
Reaching a healthy weight is an incredibly challenging pursuit and people can easily become discouraged. The idea that eating less and exercising more will always lead to weight loss is an oversimplified perspective.
Weight loss needs to be addressed from a variety of angles to generate sustainable, lasting effects.
Although we know the BMI scale is not always an indicator of health, we do know that being at an unhealthy weight for your body can increase the risk of many serious diseases & health conditions.
Mental health disorders are significantly more common in people with overweight or obesity, although it’s hard to tease apart how much is physiological and how much stems from societal pressures to look a certain way.
Hormone imbalances also contribute to weight gain, with certain imbalances like excess cortisol (stress hormone), androgens (male hormones), or estrogen dominance as the most common culprits. These hormonal imbalances can trigger weight gain, especially in the abdominal area. Excess weight gain in this region is associated with a higher risk of developing metabolic conditions and various diseases.
Even the gut can influence weight status. The gut’s impact on weight goes beyond digestion, with new research suggesting that the gut microbiome acts as a link between obesity and overall health⁴.
Obesity is closely linked to systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, reduced diversity of gut bacteria, and increased intestinal permeability⁴. When the gut is unhealthy, it can disrupt hormone balance, blood sugar control, and promote inflammation, all of which can contribute to weight gain, creating a complex interplay between gut health and weight management.
Why Weight Management Matters
By addressing these metabolic imbalances and understanding the intricacies of how they impact your body, you can not only manage your weight effectively but also improve your overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. It's crucial to approach weight management holistically, considering the interplay of various factors to ensure a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to well-being.
By addressing these metabolic imbalances and understanding the intricacies of how they impact your body, you can not only manage your weight effectively but also improve your overall health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. It's crucial to approach weight management holistically, considering the interplay of various factors to ensure a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to well-being.
In essence, weight gain is not merely a matter of aesthetics but rather a manifestation of deeper physiological issues.
In essence, weight gain is not merely a matter of aesthetics but rather a manifestation of deeper physiological issues.
We recommend advanced diagnostic testing to determine what obstacles are keeping you from your desired body composition and use targeted dietary, supplement and lifestyle interventions to help you reach your goals.
At Birchwell, we conduct in-depth assessments of your health history, genetics, dietary patterns and lifestyle behaviors to determine how they’re affecting your metabolic health.
Birchwell’s Approach to Functional Medicine for Weight Management
You will learn how your daily actions impact your weight from a blood sugar, inflammation, hormone and gut perspective. You’ll learn how to leverage movement, sleep, stress management, and other seemingly small changes to get you closer to your goals and optimal health.
lifestyle
We will recommend targeted supplements based on our comprehensive assessment and lab findings. We will consider supplementation to balance blood sugar, support detox, improve sleep quality and reduce stress when necessary. All of our recommendations will be evidence-based, sustainable solutions, using therapeutic, professional grade supplements that are safe and effective.
supplements
You will receive extensive nutrition education on what, how, and when to eat to support your metabolic health and weight control. We will restore nutrient deficiencies, hormone imbalances, gut health, and reduce any inflammation discovered in the lab work. You will be given specific food recommendations and we will do collaborative meal planning so you feel confident and comfortable making food choices, without becoming obsessive. We’ll approach your weight management from a food as medicine lens to get you in your healthiest body.
nutrition recommendations
Weight management can be a complex issue with a variety of driving factors. We will explore all the possibilities with detailed bloodwork, assessing thyroid health, nutrient levels, inflammation and glucose control. We’ll pursue advanced hormone testing, comprehensive stool and/or breath tests, and salivary cortisol tests when indicated. If necessary, we’ll keep searching for answers with heavy metal, mold and detoxification assessments.
diagnostic testing
We recommend advanced diagnostic testing to determine what obstacles are keeping you from your desired body composition and use targeted dietary, supplement and lifestyle interventions to help you reach your goals.
At Birchwell, we conduct in-depth assessments of your health history, genetics, dietary patterns and lifestyle behaviors to determine how they’re affecting your metabolic health.
Birchwell’s Approach to Functional Medicine for Weight Management
Metabolic syndrome
Type 2 Diabetes
Insulin resistance
Sleep apnea
Coronary heart disease
Osteoarthritis
Hypertension
Fatty liver disease
Addressing weight-related conditions with functional medicine strategies
Weight management is a personal journey with a range of motivations, from overall wellbeing to a more active lifestyle. Although body dissatisfaction is common and the desire to lose weight is not inherently negative, it is crucial to approach it safely.
Kidney disease
Gallbladder & pancreas diseases
Mental health disorders
Dyslipidemia
Hypertension
Stroke
Infertility
Erectile dysfunction
weight-related conditions
Our comprehensive approach to weight management can unlock the next step on your health journey. We see you as a whole person and will support your health from every angle!
Our comprehensive approach to addressing mental health concerns offers a beacon of hope. We understand the intricate connection between mental and physical health and we use advanced diagnostic testing, personalized nutrition recommendations, targeted supplements, and practical lifestyle modifications to guide your healing.⁵
At Birchwell, we take a holistic approach to weight management, conducting in-depth assessments, advanced testing, nutrition guidance, targeted supplements, and lifestyle adjustments to support metabolic health and overall wellbeing.
At Birchwell, we take a holistic approach to weight management, conducting in-depth assessments, advanced testing, nutrition guidance, targeted supplements, and lifestyle adjustments to support metabolic health and overall wellbeing.
Book a non-obligation, complimentary discovery call to chat with one of our practitioners to see if Birchwell is the right fit for you. To learn more about the process of working together, visit our service page.
Curious how we can help you achieve your weight goals?
