Frequently asked questions

Our program integrates the 4 pillars of weight management treatment.  You will meet with Dr. Morrison for a one hour medical evaluation, which will include a thorough history, blood pressure check, brief physical exam, body composition scale analysis and review of the patient questionnaire you will complete prior to the visit.  Dr. Morrison will order labs and refer for any other necessary tests to evaluate your health and determine treatment priorities.  After this initial visit, you will schedule with Dr. Pinto, who will begin the process of addressing behavioral aspects of weight management, in addition to nutrition and physical activity plans.  Dr. Pinto will work with you on identifying and addressing obstacles to weight loss and sustaining good health. We meet you where you are and develop a comprehensive treatment plan that is individualized for you.  We will set follow up visits at least every 4 weeks to provide accountability, support and education. We will monitor progress and make adjustments as necessary.

Dr. Morrison and Dr. Pinto are in network providers with BCBS PPO and Aetna PPO.  Dr. Pinto is also a Medicare provider.  The Body Composition Analysis is not covered by insurance and you will be asked to pay $100 at initial visit to cover the cost of your initial analysis and the first follow up analysis in 2-3 months.

If we are out of network with your insurance, we will provide you with a superbill that has all the codes that you will need to seek reimbursement from your insurance directly.  The initial visit with Dr. Morrison is $350 and follow up visits are $195.  Your first visit with Dr. Pinto will be $250 and follow up visits are $180.

Antiobesity medication is a medical tool designed to help people manage their weight in conjunction with lifestyle changes like nutrition and physical activity. Obesity is a medical condition. We would not consider people to be cheating if they were taking medication for high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer or other medical conditions. Unfortunately, people may view medication as cheating out of stigma, fear or lack of education about obesity as a medical condition. The key is to approach taking any medication as part of a comprehensive plan and to use it under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Everyone’s weight loss journey is unique.  At Healthy4Life, we work with you to find a safe and effective plan that is sustainable for you to lose the weight and keep it off.  There is nothing unfair about wanting to be healthy and living a long, fulfilling life.

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People often regain weight after a significant weight loss due to a combination of physiological, psychological, and behavioral factors. Here are some key reasons:

1. Metabolic Changes: When you lose weight, your body's metabolism can slow down, causing it to burn fewer calories at rest. This is known as metabolic adaptation or the "starvation mode." As a result, you require fewer calories to maintain your new, lower weight, making it easier to regain weight if you return to previous eating habits.
2. Hormonal Changes: Weight loss can also lead to changes in hormonal levels, including hormones that regulate hunger and appetite. Ghrelin, the "hunger hormone," tends to increase after weight loss, making you feel hungrier and potentially leading to overeating.
3. Psychological Factors: Emotional and psychological factors play a significant role in weight regain. The process of losing weight can be emotionally challenging, and people may turn to food for comfort or stress relief. Returning to old eating patterns can provide a sense of familiarity and emotional comfort.
4. Unrealistic Expectations: Sometimes, people set unrealistic goals for weight loss and adopt extreme diets or exercise regimens that are difficult to maintain over the long term. Once the initial motivation wanes or the diet becomes unsustainable, weight regain can occur.
5. Lack of Sustainable Lifestyle Changes: Successful weight loss requires adopting healthy lifestyle changes, including balanced eating habits and regular physical activity. If these changes are not maintained after weight loss, it becomes easy to revert to previous habits and regain the lost weight.
6. Social and Environmental Influences: The social and environmental context in which you live can influence your eating habits. If you're surrounded by unhealthy food options or social situations that encourage overeating, it can be challenging to maintain your weight loss.
7. Loss of Accountability and Support: Some weight loss programs offer structured support and accountability. Once people stop receiving this support, they may struggle to stay motivated and adhere to healthy behaviors.
8. Body Set-Point: Your body has a natural "set-point" weight that it tends to gravitate toward. Drastically altering your weight through dieting can trigger physiological mechanisms that aim to bring you back to your set-point weight, making long-term weight maintenance challenging.
9. Yo-Yo Dieting: Repeated cycles of weight loss and regain, known as yo-yo dieting, can further disrupt your metabolism and lead to increased body fat accumulation over time.

To mitigate weight regain, it's essential to focus on sustainable lifestyle changes rather than quick fixes. This includes adopting a balanced and varied diet, engaging in regular physical activity, managing stress and emotions in healthy ways, seeking support from professionals if needed, and setting realistic goals for long-term success.

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Weight loss can have beneficial effects on your overall physical and mental health.

1. Cardiovascular Health: Weight loss, especially if it reduces excess body fat, can improve your cardiovascular health by reducing the strain on your heart and lowering the risk of conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
2. Type 2 Diabetes: Losing weight can improve insulin sensitivity and help manage or even reverse type 2 diabetes. It may reduce the need for medication and better regulate blood sugar levels.
3. Joint Health: Less weight can reduce stress on joints, potentially alleviating pain and improving mobility, especially for individuals with conditions like osteoarthritis.
4. Sleep Apnea: Weight loss can lessen the severity of sleep apnea symptoms and improve sleep quality.  Untreated sleep apnea is associated with increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and depression.
5. Cholesterol Levels: Losing weight can lead to improved cholesterol levels, including a decrease in LDL (bad) cholesterol and an increase in HDL (good) cholesterol.
6. Mental Health: Successful weight loss can boost self-esteem and body image, leading to better mental well-being.

We will complete a medical evaluation with Dr. Morrison and a behavioral evaluation with Dr. Pinto.  We will then work together to develop a plan that is sustainable and individualized to lose the weight and prevent regain.

Depression and obesity can be interconnected in a complex and bidirectional manner. While they are distinct conditions, there are several ways in which they can influence each other:

1. Psychological and Emotional Factors: People with depression may be at a higher risk of developing obesity due to emotional eating. Depression can lead to overeating or consuming comfort foods as a way to cope with negative emotions. This can contribute to weight gain and obesity.
2. Hormonal Changes: Depression can impact hormones that regulate appetite and metabolism. Some individuals with depression may experience disruptions in hormones like cortisol, which can affect appetite regulation and lead to weight gain.
3. Lifestyle Factors: Depression can lead to a sedentary lifestyle and reduced physical activity. Lack of motivation and low energy levels, common symptoms of depression, can discourage people from engaging in regular exercise, contributing to weight gain.
4. Biological Mechanisms: There is growing evidence that obesity and depression share underlying biological mechanisms, including inflammation and neurotransmitter imbalances. These shared pathways may contribute to the co-occurrence of the two conditions.

On the other hand, obesity can also influence the development and course of depression:

1. Body Image and Self-Esteem: Obesity can lead to negative body image and low self-esteem, which are risk factors for the development of depression.
2. Social Isolation and Stigma: Individuals with obesity may experience social isolation and stigma, which can lead to feelings of loneliness, low self-worth, and eventually contribute to depressive symptoms.
3. Inflammation: Obesity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, which has been linked to depression. Inflammatory processes in the body may affect brain function and mood regulation.
4. Biological Factors: Changes in hormones and neurotransmitters that occur in obesity may also influence mood and contribute to the development of depressive symptoms.

It's important to note that not everyone with obesity will develop depression, and not everyone with depression will develop obesity. However, the relationship between these two conditions underscores the importance of addressing both physical and mental health when managing either one.

Treatment for individuals with both depression and obesity often involves a holistic approach that includes psychotherapy, medication if necessary, lifestyle changes (such as adopting a healthy diet and increasing physical activity), and social support. Working with healthcare professionals who specialize in both mental health and obesity management can provide the most comprehensive and effective treatment

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Trauma, especially in the form of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) or other significant life events, can increase the risk of obesity through various psychological, behavioral, and physiological mechanisms. Here's how trauma can contribute to an increased risk of obesity:

1. Emotional Eating and Coping Mechanisms: Trauma, particularly when experienced during childhood, can lead to emotional dysregulation and difficulties in coping with stress. Some individuals may turn to food as a way to self-soothe or cope with negative emotions, leading to emotional eating and overeating. This can contribute to weight gain and obesity over time.
2. Hormonal Changes: Trauma can lead to hormonal imbalances, including changes in cortisol (the stress hormone) levels. Elevated cortisol levels, often associated with chronic stress and trauma, can influence appetite and metabolism, potentially leading to weight gain and abdominal obesity.
3. Disordered Eating Patterns: Trauma can contribute to the development of disordered eating behaviors, such as binge eating, compulsive eating, or night eating syndrome. These patterns of eating can disrupt normal eating habits and contribute to obesity.
4. Physical Inactivity: Trauma can lead to reduced motivation, low energy levels, and a sense of hopelessness, which may discourage physical activity and contribute to a sedentary lifestyle. Lack of exercise can be a significant factor in the development of obesity.
5. Altered Brain Function and Reward Pathways: Trauma can impact brain function, including areas of the brain that regulate reward and pleasure. This can lead to changes in the brain's response to food and cravings, making it more difficult to resist unhealthy foods and leading to overconsumption.
6. Sleep Disturbances: Trauma can often lead to sleep disturbances such as insomnia or nightmares. Poor sleep quality and duration are associated with weight gain and obesity due to their effects on metabolism, appetite regulation, and energy balance.
7. Biological Changes: Trauma can lead to changes in the body's stress response system, immune system, and inflammation levels. These changes can contribute to obesity-related metabolic disorders and insulin resistance.
8. Development of Negative Self-Perception: Trauma can lead to feelings of shame, guilt, and a negative self-image. These feelings may contribute to a lack of self-care, including healthy eating and physical activity, which can lead to weight gain.
9. Lack of Social Support: Trauma can impact social relationships and support systems. A lack of social support can lead to isolation and further exacerbate unhealthy eating habits and sedentary behaviors.

Addressing the relationship between trauma and obesity often requires a comprehensive approach that involves therapy, counseling, and support. Treating the psychological and emotional effects of trauma can help individuals develop healthier coping strategies, reduce emotional eating, and improve overall well-being. Integrating trauma-informed care into obesity management can be crucial for long-term success in addressing weight-related issues for individuals who have experienced trauma.

There are several reasons why people might find it challenging to seek help for the treatment of obesity or being overweight

1. Stigma and Shame: Being overweight is often stigmatized in society, and individuals who struggle with weight may feel ashamed or judged by others. This stigma can make it difficult for them to open up about their struggles and seek help.
2. Fear of Judgment: People may fear being judged by healthcare professionals or others if they admit to struggling with weight. This fear of judgment can prevent them from seeking the medical and emotional support they need.
3. Personal Responsibility and Blame: Some individuals may believe that being overweight is solely a result of their personal choices and behaviors. This perception of self-blame can lead to feelings of guilt and a reluctance to seek help, as they may feel they should be able to address the issue on their own.
4. Previous Negative Experiences: Negative experiences with healthcare professionals or ineffective weight loss attempts in the past can discourage individuals from seeking treatment again. They may feel disillusioned or believe that seeking help won't make a difference.
5. Lack of Awareness: Some people may not fully understand the health risks associated with obesity or may underestimate the seriousness of their condition. This lack of awareness can lead to a delay in seeking treatment.
6. Misinformation: The abundance of conflicting information about weight loss, diets, and exercise regimens can be overwhelming and confusing. People may be unsure about what approach to take or may be skeptical of the effectiveness of available treatments.
7. Financial Barriers: Access to obesity treatment options can be limited by financial constraints. Weight loss programs, medications, and medical interventions can be costly, making them inaccessible to some individuals.
8. Perceived Hopelessness: People who have struggled with weight for a long time may feel discouraged and believe that their efforts to lose weight will be futile. This sense of hopelessness can lead to a lack of motivation to seek treatment.
9. Lifestyle Changes and Commitment: Treating obesity often requires making significant lifestyle changes, which can be challenging to sustain. Some individuals may avoid seeking treatment because they are not ready or willing to commit to the necessary changes.
10. 10.Fear of Failure: The fear of not achieving desired weight loss results or of regaining weight after successful loss can deter individuals from seeking help. The anticipation of failure can be demotivating.

At Healthy4Life, we provide a supportive and nonjudgmental environment for individuals seeking help to achieve a healthier weight and lifestyle. Building trust and understanding, along with offering evidence-based treatment options and emotional support, we meet you where you are.  Your next roadblock is our next roadblock.  We will work with you to overcome these barriers and take the necessary steps towards improved health and well-being.

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