Common Questions

Why does Idaho Weight Loss use chromium?

Idaho Weight Loss of Boise utilizes chromium in our obesity treatment program. Chromium is a mineral that needs to be present for insulin to work correctly; it is an insulin co-factor. Studies have shown that many people with overweight and obesity are low in chromium. This may contribute to insulin resistance and block weight loss. Patients often notice less cravings for carbohydrates when using chromium supplementation.

Please let us know if you or your primary care provider have questions about Idaho Weight Loss of Boise’s obesity treatment or any of the supplements and medications we prescribe.

Why does Idaho Weight Loss see overweight and obesity as a chronic disease?

Disease: an abnormal condition that negatively impacts the structure or function of an organism and which produces specific signs or symptoms.

The negative effects of overweight and obesity have been well documented. Reduced life span, increased inflammation, mood disorders, infertility, diabetes, and greater risk of certain cancers are just a few of the ways excess weight impacts health. It is a CHRONIC and PROGRESSIVE disease. If left untreated, the disease and its consequences tend to get worse over time for most patients. That is why we must think about ongoing treatment and disease management, not just short-term weight loss. The obesity treatment team at Idaho Weight Loss of Boise is prepared to address the multiple psychological, behavioral, biochemical, and nutritional factors contributing to obesity and overweight.

Why do you advise daily weights in the maintenance phase?

Chronic diseases require monitoring. Just as a person with hypertension should check her blood pressure periodically or a patient with diabetes monitor his blood sugars, so should a patient with overweight keep an eye on the scale. The National Weight Control Registry tracks thousands of patients who have lost thirty pounds or more and kept it off for at least one year. Their data shows that the majority of enrollees check their weight daily.

What is insulin resistance and why is it important?

Insulin is an important hormone whose primary function is to regulate blood sugar levels. Usually, there is ½ to 1 teaspoon of sugar in the 5 quarts of blood of the average adult. In response to a rise in blood sugar after eating, insulin is released from the pancreas. The insulin moves excess sugar into cells, returning blood sugar levels to the normal range. As a person gains weight, an excess of sugar and sugar fats (triglycerides) is stored in cells. In turn, cells start to become resistant to the effects of insulin in an attempt to stop additional sugar from entering. But the body wants blood sugars to stay in the normal range, so the pancreas excretes increasingly larger amounts of insulin. This state of elevated insulin levels and low, normal, or slightly elevated blood sugar is called insulin resistance (prediabetes and metabolic syndrome are also commonly used.) High insulin levels block weight loss and create increased cravings for carbohydrates. Obviously, treatment of this vicious cycle of elevated insulin levels, overconsumption of carbohydrates, and weight gain is critically important to successful weight loss.

What is metformin (Glucophage)?

Metformin, sold under the brand name Glucophage, is a medication used in the treatment of insulin resistance, diabetes, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It is an insulin sensitizer, helping with more efficient use of insulin. This results in lower insulin levels and greater weight loss in individuals with insulin resistant states. Studies have also shown that metformin can reduce the risk of developing diabetes in the future. This risk reduction is even greater when combined with proper nutrition and weight loss.

Please let us know if you or your primary care provider have questions about any of the supplements or medications we prescribe.

Why did I reach a weight loss plateau?

There are multiple reasons for a patient to experience a weight loss plateau. There are focus reasons: vacations, celebrations, and holidays don’t disappear just because someone is trying to lose weight. There are biochemical explanations, such as insulin resistance or hypothyroidism, which we know how to identify and treat. There are also metabolic factors that we do not yet know how to identify, or if we do, for which we have not yet developed effective therapy. Leptin resistance is a good example of this; scientists have discovered that some patients with obesity are resistant to the satiety hormone leptin, but attempts at developing an effective drug treatment have so far been unsuccessful. Whatever the reason for a plateau, it is important that you do not just abruptly stop treatment. We want to continue disease control by focusing on weight maintenance, even when not in active weight loss.

How do current weights loss medications differ from phen-fen?

Phen-fen was a combination of two medicines, phentermine and fenfluramine, used for weight loss in the 1990s. A derivative of fenfluramine called dexfenfluramine was also used at that time. Patients who took fenfluramine or dexfenfluramine had a 5.4% risk of developing heart valve abnormalities. Patients with obesity already have a 4.8% risk of having heart valve abnormalities, even if they have never taken weight loss medications. The medications used today, including phentermine, have no risk of causing the same problems. Phentermine, phendimetrazine, and diethylpropion have safely been in use for nearly 60 years.

Please let us know if you or your primary care provider have questions about any of the supplements of medications we prescribe.

Can a provider at Idaho Weight Loss be my primary care provider?

Idaho Weight Loss of Boise believes strongly in preventative medicine. Our obesity treatment program focuses on directly treating the underlying causes of many chronic health issues – obesity and overweight. When necessary, we also treat conditions that are related to obesity and overweight, as treating those comorbid conditions can often improve weight loss results. But there are many conditions that should be screened for, treated, and monitored which are outside the scope of obesity medicine. We therefore ask that you continue routine follow-up with your primary care and specialty providers.

What happens once I reach my goal weight or a plateau of weight loss?

At some point, all of us will reach the end of ACTIVE weight loss. For some patients, that may be at what was originally set as a goal weight. For others, it may be before a goal weight has been achieved, but where meaningful weight loss has stopped; that stop in active weight loss may be long-lived or just a temporary plateau. Once it becomes clear that you have reached a healthy weight or plateau, we transition our focus from active weight loss to weight maintenance. During the transition phase, the dosage and frequency of weight loss medication will be gradually reduced. As we drop the amount of medication that you are taking, we will gradually increase the time between visits to our clinic. Our goal is to find the lowest amount of medication and lowest number of visits that still allow you to keep your disease in check.