Today we’re going to be talking about some of the key pillars of weight management. These are exactly the sorts of medical and lifestyle factors you would expect to discuss if you worked with an obesity medicine physician. Obesity is a chronic medical condition, it is not a lifestyle choice. So we need to put our detective hats on and really dig deep into the different areas where we can find tools that can help us. While we do not have a cure, we do have a lot of treatments for it.In this episode, I’m going to be sharing aspects of the approach I usually take with my patients, including:The importance of assessing a patient’s medical historyHow certain medications can affect weightWhy lab work is helpfulBody composition and its link to metabolic diseasesThe role of diet, exercise and stress managementHow sleep has a lot of intersections with weightRemember that every doctor will have a different philosophy when it comes to obesity. They will have different life experiences, different experiences with their patients, and different ideas of what they think works. I encourage you to find someone that's aligned with what you're looking for in the moment and be aware that this might change over time.Referenced: Rophen tape measure Audio Stamps00:21 - Dr.Rentea emphasizes the importance of finding a physician that’s aligned with your values.01:52 - Dr.Rentea reveals why the intake process is so extensive for her patients.03:35 - We discover the significance of looking at medical history to decide the best approach.04:18 - We find out how certain medications can impact weight.06:52 - Dr.Rentea explains why it’s helpful to go over lab work with your physician.08:38 - We learn why body composition should be considered and find out more about its link to metabolic diseases.10:50 - Dr.Rentea tells us what she looks for when analyzing a patient’s diet and nutrition.12:12 - Dr.Rentea talks about the role of movement and exercise.14:09 - We hear why it’s important to consider a patient’s stress levels and mental and emotional health. 16:20 - We find out how sleep has a lot of intersections with weight.Quotes11:49 - “There's a lot more that goes into this than just the calorie number that you're eating.”13:46 - “A ton of exercise is really not the main way to lose weight. It's really great for weight maintenance and for mental health and for maintaining muscle and a lot of other things. But it's not the first place that I start with people on day one.”18:02 - “This is actually really complex. There's likely a reason that I haven't been able to simply solve this on my own up to this point.”All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast. If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com