With obesity being one of the primary health concerns of Americans, it’s no surprise that the weight-loss clinic business is booming. When equipped well, these clinics can be amazingly beneficial, but should one assume that they are necessary all of the time? The answer is no. If you or someone you know is considering treatment at a weight loss clinic, it may be worth taking the following points into a consideration.
- It’s not just about diet. Many weight-loss clinics are founded on the premise of educating clients about nutrition. The idea is that weight can be controlled once the client knows how to eat adequate, balanced portions. For some people, this is true. The problem is that many people who truly cannot lose weight have tried to lose weight many times, already regulate their diet, and know “how” to eat. Rather, they have other medical or psychological reasons for being heavy. In those cases, a psychologist or doctor is needed, not a physical trainer or nutritionist. (To be fair, good clinics do offer extensive consultation with psychologists and physicians in addition to trainers and nutritionists, but not all do.)
- They feed into the system. In cases where it is a medical necessity to lose weight, clinics may provide the physical monitoring or procedures a person needs. However, there currently is no real standard across the board about who is a good candidate for weight loss program treatment or how the clinic operates. For example, Medi-Weight Loss Clinics, a physician-supervised weight-loss program are promoted almost entirely as medical weight-loss clinics, while Wellspring Camps, a weight-loss camp for children, won’t accept any applicant whose weight is severe enough to require hospitalization. Admittance into the clinic thus can be determined by a physician’s individual philosophy of operation and perception of what the applicant should look like or weigh. As a result, they may directly or indirectly perpetuate the social idea of what beauty—or even “thin” or “healthy”—is.
- People aren’t educationally isolated. As pointed out above, weight-loss clinics have a foundation of education. They make their money by convincing people that they have information to which the client doesn’t otherwise have access. In reality, most of the nutritional and physical education information the clinics give can be located easily at local libraries or online.
- The best motivators don’t get paid. Weight-loss clinics attract clients partially by claiming that they will be supportive to the client during their weight loss endeavor. This may be true, but it is also true that the family and friends of those who want to lose weight or solve an eating issue may be just as (if not more) supportive as professionals. The book, Bulimia: A Guide to Recovery, found that support of loved ones and friends was 84% effective in recovery, compared to a recovery rate of only 62% with support from professionals. This is significant when one considers that various types of eating problems (overeating, bulimia, anorexia, etc.) related to weight often are connected (such as one may switch from one type of eating problem to another). A 2006 study indicated that a family behavioral approach to weight loss-that is, an approach that involves family in the weight loss attempt and treatment-provided better results than other treatments for children.
- Heavy doesn’t always equal the need for change. In the United States currently, there is the notion that being heavy signifies a health risk and that the individual who is heavy needs to change their lifestyle and physical shape to “get back on track.” In actuality, people with high body mass indexes (BMIs) and who are “overweight” according to BMI charts may not have any medical problems. This is because a BMI chart doesn’t accurately take into consideration that body fat percentages may vary by ethnicity or fitness level (such as a fit individual will have a high BMI if he is extremely muscular), according to Steven Halls, M.D. Most of these people have stable weights and actually could become ill or weak if they started to diet.
The Bottom Line
Many weight loss clinics are well equipped, but for the reasons listed above, you should consult with your physician, friends, and family to determine what weight loss option is right for you. Weight loss clinic or not, the most important things are gaining and maintaining health and happiness.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
