Weight Management Health
Weight Management Health with Dr. Elena Moore
Dr. Elena Moore
Naturopathic Doctor
When reading patients’ intake forms, I often see “weight loss” listed as their primary health goal. However, when I speak to my patients, I often discover that what they really want is better long-term health. They want to be around to play with their grandkids, to prevent diabetes when it runs in their family, or to help control their blood pressure when it’s been creeping up. While these metrics might not be as visible as weight, they are much more important than the number on the scale. This is why my approach to weight management focuses less on weight and size, and more on long-term health.
Many weight loss programs start by calculating your “ideal weight”, and then move on to short-term, quick-fix diets. Focusing on an ideal weight or an aesthetic goal is unrealistic, and sets you up for failure and reduced self-esteem.
My Approach...
The First thing I do is Check my Prejudices at the Door
Bias and discrimination are huge in the medical field, especially when it comes to weight. Every patient deserves to have their voice heard and their concerns taken seriously, regardless of their weight, gender, sexual orientation, race, or religion.
Next, I Focus on Assessment
- I look for underlying factors that may be contributing to weight gain, or may have made weight loss difficult in the past. These might be biological, psychological or social.
- I look for medical conditions that would be improved by weight loss, and for medical reasons not to lose weight. Losing weight for the sake of fitting into an out-dated BMI category isn’t supported by the research, so I don’t recommend it to my patients. Instead I use physical exams, lab work and a detailed history to figure out if you could actually benefit from weight loss, or if we should focus on other health goals instead.
- I get to know you on a personal level, so that I can meet you where you’re at and build a treatment program that fits into your life. Not everyone has the time to go to 5 yoga classes a week and only cook homemade organic food (let’s be real, does anyone have that kind of time?). I have a frank conversation with my patients so that we can develop a realistic, long-term plan to support your health.
Treatment
As a naturopathic doctor I have many tools in my toolkit that we can use to optimize your health. Lifestyle is the foundation of my treatment plans, but I also use targeted nutritional supplementation, botanical medicine, and acupuncture to help you feel your best.
Quick-fix, trendy weight loss diets might help you shed a few pounds this month, but they often don’t support your long-term health and well-being. If you’re looking to learn more about how Elena can support your health journey, book a free 15-min phone consult today. Call us at 604-368-8799 or book an appointment online here.
