As viewers of late-night TV can attest, weight loss is often approached as a short-term goal. Infomercials tout fad diets, extreme workouts and quick-fix supplements that rarely lead to lasting results.
Functional medicine, on the other hand, focuses on identifying the root causes of weight gain and addressing imbalances in the body. By looking at factors such as gut health, hormone balance, inflammation and metabolic function, functional medicine creates a sustainable path to weight loss and overall wellness.
The human body is a complex machine and weight management is influenced by a variety of systems and factors, including:
| Gut health: A healthy gut harbors microbiomes, a form of bacteria that supports digestion, metabolism and absorption, protecting against pathogens. Dysbiosis is an imbalance in gut bacteria that can lead to cravings, inflammation and poor nutrient absorption. This adversely impacts the immune, nervous and endocrine systems.
| Hormonal imbalance: Insulin resistance, thyroid dysfunction and imbalances in cortisol (the stress hormone) can all contribute to weight gain and difficulty losing weight.
| Inflammation: Chronic inflammation, often caused by poor diet, stress and environmental toxins, can disrupt metabolism and promote fat storage.
| Toxic burden: Exposure to environmental toxins, such as pesticides, heavy metals and endocrine disruptors, can interfere with metabolic function and hormone regulation. Here in Southwest Florida, with our pervasive heat, humidity and elevated risk of hurricanes, physicians are wise to consider mold toxicity as part of the differential diagnosis.
| Nutrient deficiencies: Deficiencies in key nutrients like magnesium, vitamin D and essential fatty acids can impair metabolism and energy production.
To sustain weight loss, it's vital to take a 360-degree review that forms the core of functional medicine. From the outset, your standard physical examination will be preceded by a detailed compilation of a patient's health history to better understand the role of familial, genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors.
A functional medicine approach to sustainable weight loss involves:
Identifying and addressing root causes
Functional medicine practitioners often use genetic testing and comprehensive lab testing to assess factors like insulin and blood sugar levels, hormone balance, gut microbiome health and inflammatory markers, allowing us to assess toxic burden and enhance detoxification.
These data help create a personalized weight loss plan tailored to an individual's unique biochemistry.
Balancing blood sugar and insulin levels
High insulin levels contribute to fat storage and can lead to cravings and energy crashes. We recommend avoiding inflammatory food like refined carbohydrates, sugar and processed foods. You can also incorporate intermittent fasting or time-restricted eating to improve insulin sensitivity while eating an organic, whole-food and low-glycemic diet rich in fiber, healthy fats and protein.
Heal the gut
Obesity and being overweight are chronic conditions often linked to imbalances in the microbiome.
The functional medicine approach to gastrointestinal wellness relies on removing inflammatory food and foods that the client might be sensitive to; replacing missing nutrients or digestive enzymes based on an individual patient's test results, which could entail use of supplements such as digestive enzymes, bile salts or stomach acid; reinoculating the gut with beneficial bacteria such as Akkermansia muciniphilia and butyrate producing bacteria that are vital for gut health, enhance gut barrier integrity and play a role in the inflammatory responses necessary for effective for metabolic regulation and weight maintenance; and repairing any damage to the gut lining, through the use of supplements that help repair and maintain this essential protection.
Support hormonal balance/ reduce inflammation
Managing stress through mindfulness, meditation and adequate sleep is essential to achieving sustainable weight loss. Such activities support adrenal function, reduce cortisol levels and optimize thyroid function.
Chronic inflammation is a major driver of weight gain and metabolic dysfunction.
Our advice: follow an anti-inflammatory diet rich in colorful vegetables, healthy fats and lean proteins. Eliminate processed foods, refined sugars and inflammatory oils. Support detoxification through hydration, sauna therapy and liver-supporting foods like cruciferous vegetables.
Make it personal
Remember, these are broad recommendations. Every individual has his or her own unique health history. Personalized recommendations based on genetic testing, food sensitivity testing and metabolic analysis can help individuals find the most effective dietary approach.
Sustainable weight loss isn't just about counting calories. It's about restoring balance to the body and addressing the root causes of weight gain.