Description
The weight management panel helps to evaluate for secondary causes for weight issues. Abnormal weight gain can be the result of insulin resistance which at times can be treated with other forms of therapy. Monitoring thyroid function is helpful to assure your thyroid function is normal. This too can be a secondary reason for weight gain. It is in important as you proceed on your weight loss journey to monitor lipids, electrolytes, liver functions, etc to monitor for adverse effects as your weight decreases. It is helpful to be sure you are getting the positive responses from weight loss like lipid improvement, sugar management, and other changes that would be expected with weight reduction.
This panel includes the following test:
Complete Blood Count (CBC)
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
Free T4
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
Homocysteine
"HS-CRP" (High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein)
Lipid Panel
Progesterone
Testosterone
Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Vitamin B12 and Folate
Fasting not required.
Additional information about each test is listed below:
A complete blood count (CBC) is important for weight management because it can reveal underlying health issues that may be contributing to weight gain or hindering weight loss, allowing a healthcare provider to address these issues and develop a more effective weight management plan by identifying potential problems like anemia, thyroid dysfunction, or infections, which may not be readily apparent through diet and exercise alone.
A comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) is a blood test that measures various substances in your body to assess your metabolism, liver and kidney function, and electrolyte balance. It can help identify health conditions that may impact weight management, such as diabetes, kidney disease, and liver inflammation.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a supplement that some say can help with weight management.
Free T4 levels can be a predictor of weight loss, especially when combined with other thyroid hormones and weight loss programs.
Weight management plays a significant role in controlling hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, as losing even a moderate amount of body weight can demonstrably lower your HbA1c, particularly for individuals with diabetes, indicating better blood sugar control; generally, a 5-10% weight loss can lead to a noticeable reduction in HbA1c levels.
Managing your weight is important in relation to homocysteine because being overweight or obese can contribute to elevated homocysteine levels, which is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to its potential to damage blood vessel lining and promote blood clotting; therefore, maintaining a healthy weight can help maintain healthy homocysteine levels and reduce this cardiovascular risk.
When discussing weight management, "HS-CRP" (High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein) refers to a blood marker that is closely associated with body fat and inflammation, meaning that managing your weight can significantly impact your HS-CRP levels, with weight loss generally leading to a decrease in HS-CRP; therefore, monitoring HS-CRP can be a useful tool in assessing the effectiveness of weight management strategies.
A lipid panel is important for weight management because it measures the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood, which are directly affected by your weight, and can significantly impact your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes, making it a crucial tool for monitoring the effectiveness of weight loss efforts and identifying potential concerns related to your heart health.
Progesterone can help with weight management by balancing other hormones that affect weight. Progesterone helps the body burn fat, release water and salts, and regulate appetite.
Testosterone is important for weight management because it plays a crucial role in maintaining muscle mass, regulating metabolism, and influencing body fat distribution, meaning adequate testosterone levels can help individuals lose weight more effectively, particularly by reducing visceral fat and promoting lean muscle growth, which is key for a healthy body composition.
Weight loss can cause a decrease in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. This can happen through lifestyle changes, bariatric surgery, or caloric restriction diets.
Vitamin B12 and folate are important for weight management because they help with energy metabolism, red blood cell production, and DNA synthesis.
