Nutritional Counseling & Weight Management
Obesity is a leading cause of illness and premature death. Dr. Edwards counsels patients on nutrition, nutritional supplements, and exercise. Realistic goals for gradual weight loss are set and achieved through lifestyle modification. Educational resources are provided to assist patients in meal planning and maintenance of a healthy body weight.
Dr. Edwards works with individual patient needs to customize an appropriate diet and exercise regimen. Each person's hormones imbalances and internal physiology differs. As such, many standard weight loss programs often fail to provide long term reductions in weight. Dietary intake has a profound impact on health, and Dr. Edwards reviews each patient's history and test results individually before recommending dietary recommendations.
Dieting is not recommended. Rather, realistic gradual dietary changes are recommended. If changes are more gradual, patients are more likely to maintain the weight loss they achieve. Assessment of underlying gastrointestinal health, hormone status, and food allergies, just to name a few things, all play a role in determining the appropriate diet for each individual. "One size does not fit all" when it comes to making dietary recommendations.
Dr. Edwards can also make recommendations for nutritional supplements which will assist in this process. Prescription medications, such as Xenical and Phenteramine, have numerous side effects and rarely result in permanent weight loss. Many studies have shown that no more than approximately 10% body weight loss occurs with use of these medications. In many instances, patients gain any lost weight back once these medications are discontinued. As a functional medicine physician, Dr. Edwards attempts to diagnose the cause of a patient's weight disturbance and treat accordingly. "Band-aid" prescription drugs are never necessary, and many patients find they enjoy successful and sustained weight loss once internal physiological imbalances are corrected.
In some situations, Dr. Edwards will prescribe high protein, low carbohydrate protein shakes and bars to assist patients in achieving their weight loss goals. She offers several weight reduction programs including Cornerstone Weight Loss Program and Metagenics products. Again, these are prescribed on an individualized basis and under direct physician supervision.
