Nutritional Weight Loss with OPTIFAST®

Nutritional weight loss refers to the process of losing weight through a balanced and healthy diet. Unlike fad diets or weight loss supplements that promise quick results, nutritional weight loss focuses on making long-term lifestyle changes that promote sustainable weight loss and overall health.

Nutritional weight loss involves consuming a balanced diet that is rich in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals while limiting calorie intake. This typically involves eating a variety of whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, while avoiding processed and high-calorie foods.

How does Nutrition help with Weight Loss?

There are several ways that nutrition can help with weight loss:

Reducing Calorie Intake: Consuming a diet that is lower in calories than what the body needs for energy can lead to weight loss. By focusing on whole, nutrient-dense foods, individuals can eat satisfying meals that are lower in calories than processed and high-calorie foods.
Promoting Fullness and Satisfaction: Eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fiber, protein, and healthy fats can help promote feelings of fullness and satisfaction, which can reduce overeating and snacking on unhealthy foods.
Improving Overall Health: A balanced and nutrient-rich diet can improve overall health, including reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. This can help individuals maintain a healthy and active lifestyle that reduces the risk of weight-related health problems.

OPTIFAST® Weight Loss Program

A weight loss program that emphasizes nutritional weight loss is the OPTIFAST® program. OPTIFAST® is a meal replacement program that involves consuming shakes, bars, and other low-calorie meal replacements in place of traditional meals. The program is designed to promote weight loss while providing essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to support overall health.

How does the OPTIFAST® Program Work?

The OPTIFAST® program typically involves a low-calorie diet plan that provides around 800-1000 calories per day, which is lower than the average person's daily energy needs. This calorie deficit can lead to weight loss while the meal replacements help provide essential nutrients and promote feelings of fullness.

In addition to the meal replacements, the OPTIFAST® program includes counseling and support to help individuals make long-term lifestyle changes that promote weight loss and overall health. The program typically lasts for 12-24 weeks.

Ideal Candidates for the OPTIFAST® Program

The OPTIFAST® program is designed for individuals with a BMI of 30 or higher or those with a BMI of 27-30 with weight-related health problems such as diabetes or prediabetes, joint pain, sleep apnea, and liver disease.

Contraindications to the OPTIFAST® Program

The OPTIFAST® program is contraindicated in:

Healthy individuals who only want to lose a few pounds
Those below 18 years
Recent history of heart attack
Kidney disease