How the GP can support to fight those kilos

30 January 2017 - As a New Year’s resolution, many people resolve to not only stop smoking, but also to lose weight by changing their diet and exercising regularly. Generally, the first step towards these goals is also the hardest and while many may start January with good intentions, their motivation drops noticeably over time. The most common reason for this is a lack of progress or visible results, especially when attempting to lose weight. After an initial quick success, the scales appear to stand still and further weight loss only progresses at a slow pace. With motivation dwindling, the danger of weight gain increases.

Most people want to lose weight for cosmetic reasons, but in many cases it is medically advisable, as weight gain is associated with a variety of diseases such as arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus. By seeking the advice of a nutritionist or GP, they can help to boost motivation and weight loss in a healthy way. Yet, in most cases, those wanting to lose weight often lack awareness or motivation to change their dietary habits and lifestyle. It is often difficult for doctors to address weight problems with their patients openly and to prompt them to take action. On the other hand, many patients are not even aware of how severe their weight issues are because they do not weigh themselves regularly.

An effective solution to this problem could be the wireless ultrasonic measuring station seca 287. In just a few seconds, it measures not only weight but also body size by using three ultrasonic sensor pairs with very high accuracy. No assistance is required for measuring with the seca 287, as it is completely automatic and guides the patient through the entire procedure with the help of a language assistant. This allows patients to quickly and easily measure their size and body weight in the waiting area.

Using size and weight, the seca 287 also calculates the body mass index (BMI) and wirelessly transmits all recorded data to a computer. There it can easily be put into an already existing patient data management system (PDMS) and the results of the measurements are available as soon as the patient enters the treatment room. These measures can help make patients more aware of their nutritional status and give them the necessary motivation to change their diet.

Checking a patient’s weight and their BMI should only be regarded as an initial examination. The seca mBCA measures the body’s composition, so the patient’s nutritional state can be assessed with accuracy. This uses a bio-impedance analysis to quickly and noninvasively measure body composition, through weak electrical currents. The seca mBCA provides medically validated results of body fat percentage, muscle mass and body fluid; all at a clinical level of precision. Especially when a patient has already started to change their diet and lifestyle, seca mBCA can precisely measure those changes as they occur.

The precise measurement of the fat and muscle mass is particularly helpful in phases of slow weight loss. People who are able to track muscle mass and reduced fat mass regularly with seca mBCA, will not get frustrated with their seemingly stagnant progress. During this process, they will instead stay motivated to maintain their current lifestyle and the risk of falling back into old patterns is significantly decreased.

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How the GP can support to fight those kilos

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